Explosion of red tape hits Bradfield businesses hard.

‘New figures on the explosion of red tape highlight the burden faced by businesses and community groups, in Bradfield and around Australia,’ Paul Fletcher Member for Bradfield said today.

‘The Rudd-Gillard government has introduced 20,900 new regulations since it was elected in 2007.

‘This explosion of red tape makes it ever more difficult for small businesses and community groups to do their jobs. 

‘Local business people are telling me they are spending more time than ever before complying with burdensome rules and requirements.

‘For a small business person running a cafe, newsagency, or lawn mowing business this means less time with customers, less time earning money and less time with their families.

‘Labor had promised to cut red tape - instead it has exploded.

Mr Fletcher said the new data confirmed the findings of the National Red Tape Survey which found that 73 per cent of businesses reporting an increase in regulation compliance costs over the past two years.

‘My message to Bradfield’s businesses is that the Coalition has a detailed and well developed plan to cut red tape.

‘This plan will cut $1 billion of red tape on businesses and community groups every year.

‘We are confident we can do it with red tape reduction policies such as abolishing the carbon tax and mining tax, establishing a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals and having dedicated Parliamentary sitting days for the repeal of regulation.

Mr Fletcher said the Coalition’s Discussion Paper on Deregulation Reform released in this past week also identified other proposals such as:

·  Requiring government departments and agencies to reduce red tape every year

· Creating a dedicated unit in every department and agency that is charged with cutting red tape.                                                                                                                                                              

·     Linking the pay and bonuses of senior public servants to quantified and proven reductions in red tape.

·     Establishing a national benchmark scheme for local councils to measure approval processing times and promote efficient administration and regulatory management practices.

Mr Fletcher said he would be meeting local businesses and community groups to consider the Discussion Paper and to help identify any red tape that needs to be cut.

‘Of course regulation has a place – but overregulation destroys the incentive to work and do business. 

‘If we can get rid of unnecessary red tape we can make the country more productive which means we can have more jobs and a better economy”.

Mr Fletcher encouraged local business owners to read the Discussion Paper on red tape which can be downloaded from www.paulfletcher.com.au (will put up before this is sent out).

‘The release of the Discussion Paper is another part of the Coalition’s plans to deliver a strong and prosperous economy and a safe and secure Australia’, Mr Fletcher concluded.