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Red tape 'bonfire' will not include scrapping gender reporting rules Red tape 'bonfire' will not include scrapping gender reporting rules
(6 months later)
The Abbott government has played down expectations of imminent changes to gender reporting rules as part of its efforts to cut “red tape”.The Abbott government has played down expectations of imminent changes to gender reporting rules as part of its efforts to cut “red tape”.
Tony Abbott said next week’s “repeal day” would scrap more than 9,500 unnecessary or counter-productive regulations and 1,000 redundant acts of parliament.Tony Abbott said next week’s “repeal day” would scrap more than 9,500 unnecessary or counter-productive regulations and 1,000 redundant acts of parliament.
The prime minister hailed the deregulation push as “the biggest bonfire of regulations in our country’s history” that would allow Australians to have control over their own lives.The prime minister hailed the deregulation push as “the biggest bonfire of regulations in our country’s history” that would allow Australians to have control over their own lives.
But the parliamentary secretary overseeing the red tape reduction push, Josh Frydenberg, said the repeal day initiatives would not include gender reporting rules.But the parliamentary secretary overseeing the red tape reduction push, Josh Frydenberg, said the repeal day initiatives would not include gender reporting rules.
“We’re going to continue to consult,” he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.“We’re going to continue to consult,” he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
“There has been a lot of disquiet in the business sector about the implications of the gender reporting but it will not be part of our initiatives today.”“There has been a lot of disquiet in the business sector about the implications of the gender reporting but it will not be part of our initiatives today.”
Companies with 100 or more employees must report on several measures of gender equality in their workplaces under legislation passed under the former Gillard government.Companies with 100 or more employees must report on several measures of gender equality in their workplaces under legislation passed under the former Gillard government.
Australian Associated Press reported this week that the government was planning to increase the threshold for reporting to 1,000 employees, vastly reducing the number of companies that must submit data to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.Australian Associated Press reported this week that the government was planning to increase the threshold for reporting to 1,000 employees, vastly reducing the number of companies that must submit data to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
The minister assisting the prime minister for women, Michaelia Cash, issued a short statement indicating that gender reporting would remain in place and the threshold would be unchanged. The minister assisting the prime minister for women, Michaelia Cash, issued a short statement indicating that gender reporting would remain in place and the threshold would be unchanged.
“Contrary to recent misleading reports and commentary by some groups, the government is not proposing to change the threshold of the current reporting requirements for companies with more than 100 employees or to abolish gender equality reporting,” she said.“Contrary to recent misleading reports and commentary by some groups, the government is not proposing to change the threshold of the current reporting requirements for companies with more than 100 employees or to abolish gender equality reporting,” she said.
The government is pushing ahead with its plans to abolish the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), flagging the move in legislation presented to parliament on Wednesday.The government is pushing ahead with its plans to abolish the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), flagging the move in legislation presented to parliament on Wednesday.
Some of Australia’s best-known charities have signed an open letter urging Abbott to save the national regulator.Some of Australia’s best-known charities have signed an open letter urging Abbott to save the national regulator.
Lifeline, Save the Children, Wesley Mission Victoria, the RSPCA and the YMCA were among 54 organisations, experts and advocates to warn against a return to the Tax Office having the key role in determining charitable status.Lifeline, Save the Children, Wesley Mission Victoria, the RSPCA and the YMCA were among 54 organisations, experts and advocates to warn against a return to the Tax Office having the key role in determining charitable status.
Abbott said the government’s first repeal day next Wednesday would abolish the ACNC, established in 2012, “because people serving our community don’t deserve a new level of scrutiny”.Abbott said the government’s first repeal day next Wednesday would abolish the ACNC, established in 2012, “because people serving our community don’t deserve a new level of scrutiny”.
The minister for social services, Kevin Andrews, downplayed the significance of the open letter. He said it had been “signed by only 54 individuals” who were not representative of more than 600,000 not-for-profits that made up the sector.The minister for social services, Kevin Andrews, downplayed the significance of the open letter. He said it had been “signed by only 54 individuals” who were not representative of more than 600,000 not-for-profits that made up the sector.
“I have had ongoing consultations with major stakeholders and have heard overwhelming evidence that the ACNC needs to go,” Andrews said.“I have had ongoing consultations with major stakeholders and have heard overwhelming evidence that the ACNC needs to go,” Andrews said.
“We believe that the role of government is to support civil society, not to control it or bind it in more red tape.”“We believe that the role of government is to support civil society, not to control it or bind it in more red tape.”
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Andrews was ignoring the message from major charities. He said the charities were courageous to speak out against the government’s plans and he urged the Coalition not to punish the signatories.The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Andrews was ignoring the message from major charities. He said the charities were courageous to speak out against the government’s plans and he urged the Coalition not to punish the signatories.
The sector should be allowed to “self-manage”, according to the explanatory notes accompanying the government’s bill. But the abolition will not take effect until a later bill providing the details of the arrangements to replace the commission.The sector should be allowed to “self-manage”, according to the explanatory notes accompanying the government’s bill. But the abolition will not take effect until a later bill providing the details of the arrangements to replace the commission.
On Wednesday the government introduced 12 bills, including the omnibus repeal day (Autumn 2014) bill. This outlines changes that include streamlining reporting requirements for telecommunications providers and removing redundant laws.On Wednesday the government introduced 12 bills, including the omnibus repeal day (Autumn 2014) bill. This outlines changes that include streamlining reporting requirements for telecommunications providers and removing redundant laws.
It removes certification requirements under the Aged Care Act, which the government argued replicated state, territory and local government building regulations.It removes certification requirements under the Aged Care Act, which the government argued replicated state, territory and local government building regulations.
The government also introduced a bill to wind back elements of Labor’s future of financial advice reforms – a move that has attracted strong criticism.The government also introduced a bill to wind back elements of Labor’s future of financial advice reforms – a move that has attracted strong criticism.
The House of Representatives will debate the legislation next Wednesday. Abbott said the government was committing to cutting red tape, arguing that more regulation was “not the solution to every corporate, community or personal failing”. The House of Representatives will debate the legislation next Wednesday. Abbott said the government was committing to cutting red tape, arguing that more regulation was “not the solution to every corporate, community or personal failing”.
“Red tape is what officials wrap people in when they think that government knows best,” he said.“Red tape is what officials wrap people in when they think that government knows best,” he said.
The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, accused Abbott and Frydenberg of subjecting the nation “to a numbing barrage of platitudes” and slogans befitting “an overenthusiastic Young Liberals branch meeting or an American Tea party rally”.The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, accused Abbott and Frydenberg of subjecting the nation “to a numbing barrage of platitudes” and slogans befitting “an overenthusiastic Young Liberals branch meeting or an American Tea party rally”.
“Australians should be concerned as to what repeal day is really about, beneath the glib rhetoric and populist grandstanding of the prime minister and his acolytes, because what repeal day is really about is the tearing away of many good and responsible protections that Australians rely on and trust their governments to enact and enforce,” Dreyfus said.“Australians should be concerned as to what repeal day is really about, beneath the glib rhetoric and populist grandstanding of the prime minister and his acolytes, because what repeal day is really about is the tearing away of many good and responsible protections that Australians rely on and trust their governments to enact and enforce,” Dreyfus said.