Master Builders Victoria (MBA) calls for improved consultation with stakeholder groups and raises the need for better-centralised planning and the reduction of technical expertise among regulators as a response to a new Government review.
On Monday, Master Builders Victoria lodged a submission to the Small Business Regulation Review (Regulatory Interaction – Construction Sector), which is currently run by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. The key focus of the review was the day-to-day interactions that small businesses have with regulators.
Master Builders questioned whether the review sufficiently included enough consultation with stakeholder groups, and raised the need for better-centralised planning, along with the reduction of technical expertise among regulators (which often results in small businesses having fewer opportunities to seek technical or advisory information from regulators). As a part of the submission, Master Builders Victoria noted that their members were experiencing inconsistencies and overlap among regulators themselves when dealing with regulator ‘red tape’ when dealing with multiple government entities. The organisation has encouraged the government to further consider this issue.
“We also looked at the practices of a number of regulators themselves including the VBA, local councils, WorkSafe, the Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV) and VCAT,” Work Safe Victoria, commented.
“We raised issues such as on-the-spot fines from inspectors and increasing police- check processes for company registration as examples of regulator behaviours that need simplifying.”
In May, on behalf of Engage Victoria, Philip Dalidakis commented: “While reforms will immediately benefit small businesses operating in the construction sector, this review will also consider ideas that are more broadly applicable to small business and regulators in all sectors.”
“I look forward to continuing to engage with small business stakeholders as we work together to make it easier for small businesses to understand and manage their regulatory responsibilities,” he said. The full Small Business Regulation Review can be found here.