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Red tape reduction (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (Serial 157) Bill presented and read a first time. Mr STYLES (Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time. The Northern Territory government is committed to reducing red tape for all Territorians. Economic growth and a strong society require a continued focus on productivity and a reduction in the administrative burden for individuals, businesses and non-government organisations. For small business and non-government organisations, time is crucial. The time spent on compliance is time lost on growing the business, improving productivity and innovating. Having to resubmit the same information every year to multiple agencies is a significant impost on business. In June last year the government committed to a red tape reduction strategy with clear objectives about the way it will regulate. First, regulation should minimise imposts on business, maximise productivity and provide incentive for investment and innovation. It should ensure efficient use of administrative resources and be proportionate to the risk being managed. Government is also committed to regulation being customer focused and to minimising costs to individuals, businesses and the non-government organisation sector. Reducing paperwork and the number of contacts clients need to make with government is a key element of government’s red tap reduction strategy. To this end, all agencies have been requested to offer one-, three- and five-year licence and permit terms, introduced pre-filled renewal forms and to place all transactions online. Agencies are also consolidating regulatory functions including by way of information sharing, collaboration and centralisation of licensing databases. In addition, agencies are exploring ways to reduce reporting requirements and simplify forms. Preparing omnibus legislation to give effect to reform that will streamline and simplify processes and requirements is demonstration of the government’s commitment to reducing regulatory costs to business. The bill includes amendments to the Liquor Act, the Commercial and Private Agents Licensing Act and Regulations, the Auctioneers Act, Agents Licensing Act and Regulations, Tobacco Control Act and Regulations and the Water Act. This bill amends legislation to reduce paperwork and save time for businesses, individuals and non-government organisation by increasing licence and regulation terms from 12 months to up to five years, with applicants being able to choose one-, three- and five-year licence terms. I turn to the amendments in detail. The bill provides new applicants or those renewing their wholesale liquor registration an option to have registration terms of one, thee or five years. This reform will save time for approximately 30 registered liquor wholesalers in the Northern Territory. Commercial agents, private agents, auctioneers, real estate agents and business agents will also now have the option of either one-, three- or five-year terms. These amendments will provide these professionals, numbering approximately 750, with less paperwork, allowing more time for business. The tobacco retail licence will be offered for one-, three- and five-year licence terms, benefiting approximately 300 businesses in the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors. The Department of Land Resource Management identified an opportunity to reduce paperwork and save time by increasing the duration of a bore construction permit from 12 months to two years. Each year approximately 400 to 480 permits are issued for the construction of bores. Extending the permit from 12 months to two years will benefit those whose construction processes need to extend past 12 months. Government needs to provide greater customer focus flexibility for business and individuals in licensing regulations and when dealing with government. We want to make doing business with government faster and easier. For applicants of agents licenses or tobacco retail licenses the bill replaces the requirement to provide documentation. The Northern Territory’s commissioner of police has been given authority to release a criminal history report with a requirement that a national police certificate be lodged with the director general of licensing. The bill amends the requirements for common expiry dates for agent licensing regulations, for property agents and commercial and private agents. This means licenses granted to new applicants will expire on the anniversary date of their granting in accordance with the license period of one, three or five years chosen by the applicant. This change will enabled more efficient use of regulatory resources and will be complimented with new technology in the Department of Business’s licensing NT division. It will greatly improve and automate the compliance task for businesses and individuals. Implementation of the department’s new licensing and compliance system will mean that licenses will receive renewal notices electronically. We will be able to renew online and will have prefilled renewal forms. They will be able to easily keep track of their licenses and license applications. The Red Tape Reduction (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2016 is removing unnecessary red tape. It is removing the regulatory and administrative burden on businesses and the community and improving productivity and competitiveness. I commend the bill to the House. |