Australia's legislation, regulation and policy overload: why a national, state and local government reviews are urgently needed

Flood mitigation shows similar failures. The 2022 Northern Rivers floods caused more than $3.7 billion in damage, costs that could have been reduced through better planning, mitigation and infrastructure.

Suggested review areas of all current federal, state and local government legislation, regulation and associated policy

The attached document proposes more than 60 areas for review, covering everything from productivity impacts to environmental regulation, disaster mitigation, consultation processes, sovereign risk and administrative costs. At the heart of these recommendations is a simple principle: legislation must be fit for purpose, evidenceâ€'based and regularly reviewed.

Key priorities include:

• Assessing duplication and regulatory creep across all levels of government

• Evaluating economic, productivity and costâ€'ofâ€'living impacts
• Reducing burdens on small business and industry
• Ensuring legislation is grounded in sound science
• Strengthening disaster mitigation requirements
• Reviewing environmental laws for effectiveness and proportionality
• Improving consultation, accountability and transparency

Conclusion

Australia's legislative system has become bloated, inconsistent and disconnected from the realities faced by citizens, businesses and regional communities. As the document concludes, "It's certainly not nation building, exactly the opposite." A national, state and local review of legislation, regulation and policy is no longer optional, it is essential.

A streamlined, evidence based regulatory framework would restore productivity, reduce costs, strengthen national resilience and rebuild public trust. The time for a comprehensive, independent review is now.