optimise usefulness of the resulting product to Parliament, government and entities, including by aligning content and timing with other regulators and with management reporting of entities wherever possible. Regulators increase their focus on better using digital technology and making information more widely accessible to reduce repeated requests for information. Unclear and inaccessible regulations and guidance Regulators ensure that guidance documents assist entities to meet mandatory requirements contained in legislation, subordinate legislation, or policy issued by ministers, and do not set out additional requirements as if they were mandatory. Regulators ensure that regulation imposing mandatory requirements is not described as ‘guidance’ or ‘guidelines’. Finance develop, in consultation with key regulators, a short guide to promote clarity and consistency in language used in regulatory and guidance documents, whereby: mandatory requirements are suggested through the use of language such as ‘must, require/required to and should’; better practice guidance uses terms like ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘are encouraged to’; and references to mandatory requirements imposed by documents or legislation are clearly cited and not paraphrased. Regulators and policy owners review their websites to ensure regulation and guidance documents are current, accessible and logically presented. The ANAO to take the opportunity, where regulators and policy owners have or are developing policy guidance material, to review whether there is a continuing need for the ANAO to develop, release and maintain guidance. Regulators and policy owners should produce optional and flexible templates and sample reports to reduce the burden of compliance with policies. Where these are offered, they should be compliant with the Digital Design Standard (particularly with respect to disability accessibility). Finance develop and maintain a central repository or linked index of regulation that can be updated by regulators as requirements are amended or repealed. Small entities Regulators consider whether regulatory requirements could be further tiered to reflect the size of an entity where policy outcomes and risk considerations allow. Portfolio departments take an active role to assist small entities to meet regulatory requirements. Culture of risk aversion Entities maximise the opportunities for SES Band 1 and 2s to be responsible for strategic corporate decision-making.
Regulatory Area Name Access Frequency Legislation processes In the case of a ‘public service care agency’, Report on Recognition Act 2010 (included in entity Annual Report) Annual report via website Annually Legislation processes Business activity statement Policy agency Monthly Legislation processes Fringe benefits tax return Policy agency Annually Legislation processes Lands Acquisition Act Policy agency Annually Legislation processes Report on Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 Policy agency Annually Parliamentary requirements Indexed lists of entity files (Senate Order 12 - Harradine motion) Parliament Semi-annually Parliamentary requirements Entity contracts of $100,000 or more (Senate 13 - Murray motion) Parliament Semi-annually Parliamentary requirements Campaign advertising funding (Senate Order 14) Parliament As required Parliamentary requirements Appointments and vacancies (Senate Orders 15) Parliament 3 times a year Parliamentary requirements List of all grants approved (Senate Order 16 - Minchin motion) Parliament 3 times a year Parliamentary requirements Portfolio Budget Statements Parliament Annually Parliamentary requirements Response to Questions on Notice Parliament As required