Rann Labor Government Increases Red Tape

A massive hike in fees, fines and penalties relating to consumer affairs have been imposed by the Rann Labor Government, Budget Papers reveal.

A massive hike in fees, fines and penalties relating to consumer affairs have been imposed by the Rann Labor Government, Budget Papers reveal.

Shadow Consumer Affairs Minister Michelle Lensink said in State Parliament today that the 2009-10 Budget Papers show the Office for Consumer and Business Affairs had increased its fees by $1.59m.

“Clearly the Rann Government’s goal to cut red tape by 25% is just spin,” Ms Lensink said.

“On 4 February 2009 in State Parliament when I asked the Consumer Affairs Minister Gago about red tape, Minister Gago stated that the Office for Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA) intended to implement projects in this current financial year to achieve a reduction in the order of $5.4 million.

“Instead, the 2009-10 budget papers show that the OCBA’s Consumer and Business Affairs Division expect to increase income derived from fees, fines and penalties by some $1.59 m, an increase of nearly 13% and over 5 times CPI.”

 Ms Lensink today asked Minister Gago;

• What the status of OCBA’s IT systems changes were given that were due to be completed at the end of this financial year?

 • How the massive hike contributed to the government’s stated aim of reducing red tape by 25%?

 • Was the increase contained within OCBA’s Action Plan?

 • Does the fact that pages on the government’s Competitiveness Council website www.competitivesa.biz haven’t been updated since 2007 indicate that the government’s commitment to red tape reduction is a complete joke?

 The Minister failed to answer the questions.