ANDREW Barr says the ACT Government will get out of the way and let businesses create more jobs under the latest round of cuts to red tape that passed in the Assembly today.

“Despite the anti-university, anti-innovation, anti-jobs position taken by the Liberals, who want to stop the University of Canberra, one of our largest employers, creating jobs and commercialising research, I am pleased to say we passed measures to make it easier for UC to continue to thrive in the highly competitive higher education sector,” Andrew said.

“These changes are another step in our strategy to allow the University of Canberra, one of our largest employers, to grow in both size and reputation. These changes help it create more joint venture companies without having to seek government approval. By removing this unnecessary burden, these changes give the University more certainty to enter into joint ventures as it continues to develop its campus. This supports continued diversification of our economy by building on our strengths in higher education.

“Each year we commit to present at least one red tape reduction omnibus bill to the Legislative Assembly and this new legislation will slash red tape across a range of areas, including for the University of Canberra.

“Cutting unnecessary red tape for ACT business and citizens is at the foundation of our ongoing strategy to create a competitive, open and sensible economic environment. Sensible, minimal regulation is an essential step to support growth and diversification in our city’s economy.

“The latest red tape cuts will reduce administration costs for businesses and individuals in a number of other ways, including:

• streamlining the liquor license renewal processes;
• extending the period for submission of reports by agents regarding their new trust accounts;
• reducing reporting burdens related to charitable collection activities;
• removing the requirement for producing signed statutory declarations from several Acts;
• simplifying the submission of complaints to the ACT Government;
• simplifying the licence application process for the security industry;
• enabling certain advertising of lotteries, including exempt lotteries; and
• modernising fair trading legislation for motor vehicle sales.

“These changes also mean the public can put their pens away by removing the requirement for a range of documents to be signed. Electronic communication will suffice in a range of circumstances, including complaints to government and applying for replacement of a lost or stolen Certificate of Accreditation for things like operating a taxi service. Offences will remain in force for making false statements maintaining the integrity of materials provided.

“It will be simpler for charitable organisations to report on charitable-collection activities. These changes enable incorporated associations that also hold charitable collections licenses to align reporting of charitable collections with their regular reporting activity. Charitable collection license holders do not have abundant resources but do great things for the community. We will lower administrative burden for them.

“These reforms bring ACT legislation in line with the developments in the motor vehicle industry – and I thank the Motor Trades Association for its advice in designing these changes. High voltage batteries used for the propulsion of electric cars, including hybrid cars, will be classified as integral to the operation of vehicles for the purpose of warranties when selling motor vehicles. The definition of ‘accessories’ will also be updated to reflect new technologies, such as Bluetooth-enabled entertainment devices, and in-car navigation systems.”

[Photo by James Petts, a attribution licence]