Annual Review 2004, Regulations 2004, May 2005

Chairs' Foreword

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There has been a long, proud tradition of bipartisan regulation review in the Victorian Parliament for almost 49 years. The Annual Review summarises the operations of the Regulation Review Subcommittee during 2004. This year the Regulation Review Subcommittee has scrutinised 184 regulations. In addition, it considered 3 Waste Management Policies, 1 Order in Council and 3 Codes of Practice.

The Regulation Review Subcommittee’s charter is to scrutinise regulations in accordance with the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994. The Regulation Review Subcommittee did not make any adverse reports to the Parliament in 2004. However, it did send some 36 letters to Ministers raising matters of concern and seeking clarification. Ministerial correspondence and its subsequent publication in this Annual Report is one mechanism for alerting those involved in the regulation industry of particular issues. It also assists with focussing attention on improving the manner of making regulations. The Regulation Review Subcommittee thanks Ministers for their responses.

The Regulation Review Subcommittee’s task is to ensure the regulatory impact statement process is undertaken properly and with rigour. The Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 requires the Regulation Review Subcommittee to consider whether there has been compliance with the technical matters set out in it. The Regulation Review Subcommittee continues to draw attention to those matters where it is of the view there has not been sufficient compliance. Those matters are highlighted at length in Chapter 2.

This year has seen the introduction of new Premier’s Guidelines. The new Premier’s Guidelines were tabled on 9 December 2004 in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. The new Premier’s Guidelines superseded the edition published in 1997. The majority of the statutory rule series of 2004 were considered pursuant to the previous Premier’s Guidelines. However, the statutory rules series 2005 will be subject to the new Premier’s Guidelines. This may mean that the Regulation Review Subcommittee will in time develop a new version of Practice Notes. The Regulation Review Subcommittee will continue to scrutinise regulations according to the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 and the new Premier’s Guidelines and monitor the impact of any changes.

There were also changes to the composition of the Regulation Review Subcommittee. We take this opportunity to thank previous and current members of the Regulation Review Subcommittee for their work and contribution to the examination of regulations during 2004. The Regulation Review Subcommittee is ably assisted in its work by the staff. We wish to thank Ms Helen Mason, Legal Adviser for her hard work, expertise and provision of timely advice. The Regulation Review Subcommittee also wishes to acknowledge and thank Ms Sonya Caruana and Mr Simon Dinsbergs for their constant, efficient administrative support and assistance.

The work of the Regulation Review Subcommittee is a valuable part of the regulation making process. Regulations affect the average individual in many different ways. They incorporate those practical matters and details to give effect to any given Act. The Regulation Review Subcommittee looks forward to dealing with the variety of issues and challenges which will be presented to it in the coming year.

Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee
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