Page 1906 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 6 June 2017
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For businesses there are several amendments in this bill which will help ease regulatory burdens. For example, firewood merchants will no longer face the administrative costs associated with applying for an authorisation to operate in the ACT. There are still strict conditions in place regarding activities associated with the preparation, sale or supply of firewood, with offences for non-compliance, but merchants will now be relieved of the requirement to pay an annual fee.
Another example of business improvement is the change to the Utilities Act. The ACT energy industry levy is paid every year by electricity and gas distributors and suppliers. The levy covers the costs to the community of regulating the industry. In January 2017 the ACT government completed an investigation of the levy that examined how it is set and how it is distributed between participants in the sector. This bill will remove barriers to competition by introducing a fairer distribution of the levy across the sector.
The new method in this bill is based on the outcomes of the investigation. This change may well help small companies to enter the sector and improve competition. Transparency in the sector will also be increased by introducing new requirements for the levy administrator to publish guidelines and annual accounts. Other minor amendments are being made to remove ambiguity as part of an overall improvement to the way that the levy is set. Overall, the improvements to the energy business in the bill will make for a fairer regulatory system and contribute to better outcomes for consumers.
I note Mr Wall made some comments about consultation and the possibility of a briefing by my office to his, as has been the custom in previous years and also the custom with my office. Although Mr Wall is no longer in the chamber to hear the response, having dropped his comments and then walked away, I assure Mr Wall that a briefing was offered and that yesterday was the day that was chosen by his office because of his availability.
Several pieces of legislation in the territory make up our strong environment protection framework. The changes in this bill to the Water Resources Act 2007 are an example of removing duplication in that framework with no change in the level of protection. Currently, anyone who carries out construction work that could affect the flow, quality or habitat in a waterway needs a waterway work licence. This bill means that a waterway work licence will no longer be needed if the work to be done is already regulated through an existing environmental authorisation or agreement. The result will be a reduction in paperwork and fees, with absolutely no increase in the risk to the environment.
I am particularly pleased that the bill delivers on the government's commitment to make it easier for charities and not-for-profit organisations in the ACT. The amendments we are considering today will mean they have more time and more resources to focus on delivering their very important services to the community. Members would be aware that the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, the ACNC, was established in 2013 under commonwealth legislation to
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