Red tape cuts face Senate block

The federal government says it can find $1 billion in savings from cuts to red tape, but some of the changes will face opposition.

The House of Representatives chamber

The government is planning a "repeal day" in parliament when it hopes to axe more than 8000 laws. (AAP)

The federal government will face opposition in the Senate when it tries to take an axe to thousands of regulations it says impose a multi-billion-dollar burden on business and community organisations.

The government wants to repeal more than 8000 redundant laws, some of which date back to the early 20th century.

But it will need Labor and Greens support to get the changes through the upper house.

Repeal Day is scheduled for the House of Representatives on March 26, following the introduction of a broad-ranging red tape reduction bill and a series of deregulation bills on March 19.

Leader of the House Christopher Pyne said the previous Labor governments over six years introduced more than 21,000 regulations which were strangling the economy.

"On repeal day, members will be able to outline the benefits of reducing the volume and cost of Labor's red and green tape," Mr Pyne said.

The coalition went to last year's election promising a $1 billion a year benefit to business from axing regulation.

During the election campaign, the coalition gave the examples of national childcare law which runs to 180 pages plus 345 pages of regulations and 1150 pages of guidelines.

Universities employ up to 20 staff each just to deal with compliance with more than 100 state and federal laws.

And more than 200 indigenous programs are administered by 17 commonwealth agencies with their own forms and processes.

One of the more bizarre examples of targeted laws is the sale of suntan lotion, which is covered by one regulator if sold in a 300ml bottle but another if it is in a larger bottle.

Acting Greens leader Richard Di Natale said his party - which until July 2014 holds the balance of power in the Senate - was happy to work with the prime minister on a "spring clean", but said the government's approach was too heavy handed.

"There is nothing wrong with a sensible spring clean of outdated or unnecessary regulations but Tony Abbott isn't using a feather duster, he's using a wrecking ball," said Senator Di Natale.

Labor's acting finance spokesman Andrew Leigh said his party believed regulation should be minimal, but was needed to ensure a "safe, efficient and fair society".

He gave the example of the national harmonisation of work health and safety.

"Society benefits from good regulations - on food safety, banking and air travel - but none of us wants regulatory overreach," he said.

The number of regulations introduced per year was higher under the Howard government (372) than under Labor (302), he said.

All ministers have been asked to provide a list of changes, which will go before cabinet within weeks.


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Source: AAP


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