Attachment E - Water Resource Policy and Regulatory Reform
Council of Australian Governments Meeting
11 April 1995
In the lead up to the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, Heads of Government agreed to initiatives in the areas of water resource policy and regulatory reform.
The Council has agreed to the public release of the following documents:
- The Second Report of the Working Group on Water
Resource Policy
This report documents progress by jurisdictions in implementing the framework for reform of the Australian water industry outlined in the first report of the Working Group on Water Resource Policy endorsed by Heads of Government in February 1994. - The Report of the Expert Group on Asset Valuation Methods
and Cost-Recovery Definitions for the Australian Water Industry
The Expert Group Report on Asset Valuation Methods and Cost-Recovery Definitions expands on the strategic framework for the Australian water industry contained in the February 1994 Report of the Working Group on Water Resource Policy. The Expert Group report outlines preferred approaches to the valuation of assets, recognition of costs and pricing to ensure that water charges reflect the true economic (including environmental) costs of water service provision.
The Council has endorsed and agreed to the public release of the following document:
- Principles and Guidelines for National Standard Setting
and Regulatory Action
The Report provides a framework of 'best practice' principles and guidelines to be used by Ministerial Councils and other national (that is, intergovernmental) standard setting bodies when developing standards and regulations. The framework requires, among other things, public consultation on proposed standards, the preparation of Regulatory Impact Statements for all regulatory proposals to ensure there are net social and economic benefits from regulatory action.
As well, Australian Heads of Government and the Prime Minister of New Zealand have agreed to the release of a:
- Discussion Paper on a Proposal for the Trans-Tasman
Mutual Recognition of Standards For Goods and Occupations
The discussion paper outlines a proposed framework for a possible Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTMRA) based on the principles underlying the existing Australian Mutual Recognition Agreement. Mutual recognition allows the free movement of goods and registered services providers between participating jurisdictions regardless of the existence of differential standards and regulations. The release of the discussion paper marks the commencement of a public consultation phase on the proposed TTMRA. Written submissions are due by 16 June 1995.
Copies of these reports are available from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The discussion paper on trans-Tasman mutual recognition is also available free of charge from Commonwealth Government Books.
Return to COAG Communiqué -
11 April 1995