Hooray! More red tape cuts for Canberra business
In what will surely The ACT Government will get out of the way and let businesses create more jobs and charities spend less time on administration under new cuts to red tape.
The snappily named Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Bill was introduced to the Legislative Assembly yesterday. The overarching aim is to make it easier for Canberra to create joint ventures.
One of the key beneficiaries of these changes will be University of Canberra, which, in the words of Chief Minister Andrew Barr, will continue the “diversification of our economy by building on our strengths in higher education.”
Another benefit for the broader business community will be acceptance of electronic communication as acceptable for enforcing an agreement, rather than having to print documents, sign, scan and transfer. Offences will remain in force for making false statements maintaining the integrity of materials provided
Here’s a list of the benefits proposed by the Bill:
- easing the burden of operating joint ventures formed by University of Canberra, and obtaining approval to undertake campus development and other activities
- 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.
It will be simpler for charitable organisations to report on charitable-collection activities.
Charitable collection license holders do not have abundant resources but do great things for the community. Crucially, this Bill will lower administrative burden for them.
The Bill also brings ACT legislation in line with the developments in motor vehicle industry - in particular electric cars. High voltage batteries 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.
Now, off you go and buy yourself a Tesla.