Chilling case of accessive regulation

The more thoughtful politicians have recognised the regime’s deficiencies. ALP spokesman Martin Ferguson said in February this year that it was threatening export industries and creating investment disincentives. Back in 2003, Minister Macfarlane took the unusual step of rejecting the proposed regulation of the Moomba to Sydney gas pipeline, recognising that it was in competition with a rival pipeline from Bass Strait.

Something more purposeful is however required since regulators have built their own agendas with well resourced publicity machines to support them.

Preferably the law should be amended to grant assurances that where there are two or more facilities in competition, they are beyond the reach of the regulatory authorities and where no facility is in place at present, any proposal to build one will not be subject to regulatory control.

Unless measures like this are pursued, we will find investment deferred with serious consequences to economic growth.