https://www.theleader.com.au/story/9041492/cutting-nightmarish-red-tape-may-awak...



By Kat Wong
August 15 2025






Border-crossing tradies and other small business owners are being hammered by regulatory burdens, but a sweeping plan to slash red tape could save them more than $1 billion a year.

Canberra-based deck builder Xavier Duffy is forced to navigate a confusing labyrinth of approvals every time he takes on a new project.

His business, ACT Decks, operates in three NSW council areas, as well as the ACT, meaning minor differences in rules across jurisdictions can cause his workload to balloon.


"We're just spending so much time on compliance and submitting this form and that form, it's a bit of a nightmarish situation," he told AAP.

https://minerals.org.au/resources/business-leaders-call-for-25-red-tape-reductio...


20 April 2026


Further quotes from the Alliance of Industry Associations:
Minerals Council of Australia, CEO Tania Constable PSM: “Australian mining projects face slow and complex regulatory approvals, making us more vulnerable to competition for mining investment from other resource-rich economies with lower regulatory costs and faster approval processes. It’s time for change so Australia can stay in the lead on mining and deliver the minerals the world needs by developing more mines, more quickly.”

Australian Banking Association, CEO Simon Birmingham: “Banks fully support a strong regulatory framework that maintains confidence in our financial system and better protects customers. This is not about lowering regulatory standards, rather finding opportunities to lift productivity, reduce costs for customers and deliver higher-quality banking products. Our industry welcomes opportunities to engage with government and regulators on initiatives to reduce the regulatory burden on banks and ultimately deliver better outcomes for customers.”

Insurance Council of Australia, CEO Andrew Hall: “Reducing regulatory red tape is one of the most direct levers available to ease cost of living pressures at a time when the Middle East conflict is driving up prices across the economy. For the insurance industry alone, that burden costs $3.5 billion every year – a 25 per cent reduction would deliver real relief for consumers right across the country.”

Australian Institute of Company Directors, Managing Director and CEO Mark Rigotti: “This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about a regulatory system that works. When the growth in compliance roles outstrips jobs growth across the wider labour market, the balance is clearly wrong. Charities are feeling the pain just as much as businesses. Too many resources are being dedicated to onerous compliance obligations when they could be diverted to delivering vital services to the community.”

Master Builders Australia, CEO Denita Wawn: “The magnitude of the regulatory creep is magnified by Volume Two of the National Construction Code, which started out as a ‘glove box compendium’ for house builders, has grown from 93 pages in 1993 to 889 pages as it stands today.”

Builders are ready to build; they just need to be free from the red tape that has built up over the years.”

I am sick of Govt regulations and red tape -

it's just a way for them to make money out of suckers.

I was going to sub divide my house and land once -
put a townhouse in the backyard as there was plenty of room.
However - I found out that getting the easements organised:
driveway access, connection to: water, sewerage, stormwater drains, electricity, and gas
was going to be an expensive nightmare full of red tape and take up to 2 years.
Even if I would have had the time while working full time
it risked not being profitable when sold.
There were too many fingers in the pie.