Victoria appoints new ‘red tape’ commissioner
The Andrews Labor Government has appointed Anna Cronin as Victoria’s Red Tape Commissioner, bringing the office together with Ms Cronin’s existing role as the Commissioner for Better Regulation.
The new dual role will improve the effectiveness of both positions, creating a ‘one-stop shop’ for issues regarding red tape and improvements to regulation.
Ms Cronin has more than 25 years’ experience in policy development, including as an economist in the Commonwealth Government and as Chief Executive Officer of the National Farmers’ Federation. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Melbourne School of Government at the University of Melbourne.
The combined role will enable the Commissioner to advise government on a broad range of regulatory reforms – including those which reduce regulatory burden – in close consultation with businesses and not-for-profits, particularly in regional areas.
Bringing together the Office of the Commissioner for Better Regulation and the Red Tape Unit will improve information sharing and provide a single point of entry for businesses and not-for-profit organisations dealing with regulatory issues.
The amalgamation comes off the back of consultation with key industry groups, including the Australian Industry Group, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Victorian Farmers Federation, Housing Industry Association and Master Builders Association of Victoria.
Ms Cronin replaces Dr Matthew Butlin as the Red Tape Commissioner, following the completion of Dr Butlin’s second term in the role.
As the Red Tape Commissioner for almost three years, Dr Butlin played a key role in reducing the red tape burden for Victorian businesses. Prior to his appointment, he was Chair of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission.
State Treasurer Tim Pallas underlined the government’s continuing efforts to streamline the delivery of regulatory reform to cut red tape for businesses, not for profit organisations and the community and thanked Dr Butlin for his service and tireless work to reduce red tape for Victorian businesses.
The new Commissioner said she was “looking forward to the opportunity to further progress regulatory reform, in consultation with businesses and not-for-profits, to achieve the best outcomes for the Victorian economy” while the Minister for Small Business Philip Dalidakis underlined that “Small businesses are crucial to our economy, and we want to make life as easy as possible for small business owners and operators.”
