Annual Review 2005, Regulations 2005, July 2006Chairspersons' Foreword[Back to Table of Contents]The Regulation Review Subcommittee continues its bipartisan review of every regulation made in Victoria. The Annual Review summarises the operations of the Regulation Review Subcommittee during 2005. This year the Regulation Review Subcommittee scrutinised 178 regulations. The actual number of regulations made every year remains at a consistently high level. However it is fair to say this year there were fewer concerns raised by the Subcommittee in respect of the regulations. Overall, the Subcommittee is generally impressed with the quality of the Regulatory Impact Statements which accompany the regulations. This coincides with the new office of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission. The Subcommittee enjoys a very constructive and productive working relationship with the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission. This can only assist the regulation making process. The Regulation Review Subcommittee did not make any adverse reports to the Parliament in 2005. However, it did send 12 letters to Ministers seeking clarification of issues or raising concerns. Ministerial responses have generally been prompt and most helpful to the Regulation Review Subcommittee. The Regulation Review Subcommittee thanks Ministers for their responses. Our Legal Adviser, Ms Helen Mason also wishes to thank those departmental officers with whom she liaises on a daily basis. The prompt and friendly manner with which the officers respond to queries greatly facilitates the work of reviewing regulations. This year has seen regulations made pursuant to the Premier’s Guidelines which were tabled on 9 December 2004 in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. The Regulation Review Subcommittee has monitored the impact of the Premier’s Guidelines. The Regulation Review Subcommittee has made some comments in this Annual Review about the impact of the Premier’s Guidelines in respect of the ‘basket approach’ to fee increases. The Regulation Review Subcommittee will continue to consider these matters in a common sense manner. We wish to thank the current members of the Regulation Review Subcommittee for their work and contribution to the review of regulations this year. Finally, we wish to thank our staff for their commitment and dedication. We thank Ms Helen Mason our Legal Adviser for her prompt and excellent advice. We thank Ms Sonya Caruana for her outstanding administrative support. We thank Mr Simon Dinsbergs for his constant and efficient editing of Reports when necessary. 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. It is important to ensure that the regulations are made properly. It is also important to ensure that concerns raised by individuals during the Regulatory Impact Statement process are addressed when relevant. The Regulation Review Subcommittee looks forward to another challenging year.
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