Achievements

Reducing red tape in South Australia has been an exhaustive process.

Legislation has been reviewed, rules and regulations updated and new systems introduced to make dealing with government a far more streamlined and rewarding experience.

The cost savings to business and the broader community are significant. Independent assessments reveal that:

• The two-year first phase from mid 2006 to 2008 has stripped $168 million every year from the regulatory burden - $18 million ahead of target
• The three-year second phase is on schedule to cut annual red tape costs by an additional $150 million by 2012

As at 30 June 2010, initiatives that have been completed, partially completed or in the planning stage are forecast to achieve $111 million in annual savings.

RED TAPE INITIATIVES

Creative ideas and swift action across government have helped achieve these savings. Here are some of the recent completed initiatives and estimated cost savings:

• Introduction of an online system (STELA) to streamline government reporting requirements for Registered Training Organisations - $3 million
• Harmonisation of IR legislation to achieve national uniformity  - $6.8 million
• Changes in procurement guidelines with increased thresholds in the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure to make it easier for organisations to tender for State Government work - $2.3 million
• Abolition of stamp duty on mortgage transactions plus associated savings in administrative costs - $1.3 million
• Reduction in processing times for water trading, water allocation and permits - $1.5 million
• Reduction in processing times for water licence applications - $1.6 million
• Removal of an obligation to register duplicate documents for land subdivisions - $1.8 million

Several other major initiatives are underway that have not been counted against the State Government's red tape reduction target. They include:

• A streamlined contracting process using the latest online tendering system for building companies involved in the Commonwealth's Building the Education Revolution school infrastructure program
• Abolition of motor vehicle registration stickers from July 2011 to be replaced by a fully electronic system