This article popped up in our inbox this morning from PS News (The Independent News For The Australian Public Service). The story suggests that
Lindsay Tanner, The Commonwealth Minister for Finance and Deregulation has said that the Australian Federal Government believed there were significant efficiencies and cost savings to be gained through reform.
Tanner is quoted as saying:
“Compliance costs would be significantly reduced for the profession and consumers of legal services, especially those operating across borders, and Australia’s international competitiveness would be strengthened.
In the story below it appears that the Federal Govt will negotiate with all States & Territories to simplify regulatory structures and cut red tape and thus the argument goes according to a spokesman for the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) improve the delivery of
“ Legal services (which) are a critical part of Australia’s economy and require clear and efficient national regulation"
Here’s the article in full
Legal Profession To Be Brought To Book
Regulation of Australia’s fragmented legal profession is to be reformed following an agreement by all States, Territories and the Commonwealth to cooperate.
The Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, said the Government believed there were significant efficiencies and cost savings to be gained through the reform.
“Compliance costs would be significantly reduced for the profession and consumers of legal services, especially those operating across borders, and Australia’s international competitiveness would be strengthened,” Mr Tanner said.
Governments agree on reform program “The Government will pursue this important initiative through the Council of Australian Governments’ regulatory reform agenda.”
He said regulation of the legal profession had been the subject of many changes in recent years.
“However, the regulation remains overly complex and inconsistent and each jurisdiction maintains its own regulatory structure,” Mr Tanner said.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the Commonwealth looked forward to working closely with the States and Territories, the legal profession and other stakeholders on the initiative.
“It is likely that the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General will be called on to assist with the reform process,” Mr McClelland said.
A spokesman for the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) said that the current diversity of regulators added unnecessary costs and red tape for lawyers and consumers.
“The legal services are a critical part of Australia’s economy and require clear and efficient national regulation,” the spokesperson said.
The initiative was an important step towards strengthening the economy in the face of the global financial crisis and delivering a “seamless national economy.”
The spokesperson said papers for discussion were to be prepared for the next COAG meeting.
http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn15512.html
As much as it appears that everybody wants and needs these changes, especially in this downturn. Our experience of watching the states and federal govt horsetrade over any issue that means in the end that the states have a little less control than before brings to mind the word bunfight.
We hope that the federal government has some pretty strong and precise ideas on what they want to do. So that when the states and NT water them down there’s still something worthwhile that comes out in the end.
