“The Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA), the peak industry association representing Australia’s second largest manufacturing sector, welcomes the Federal Government’s deregulation agenda. Reducing the burden on Australia’s manufacturing businesses is critical to ensuring the Australian chemistry industry can grow and take advantage of our proximity to emerging markets in Asia,” PACIA Chief Executive Ms Samantha Read said today.
“The Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill is an important breakthrough in balancing the regulatory environment for Australia’s chemicals and plastics industry. The industry is committed to continuing to work with governments to deliver a balanced regulatory environment that protects workers, the community and the environment while delivering a business environment that stimulates growth, innovation and trade.
“This will enable the Australian chemicals and plastics industry to invest, innovate and bring the latest chemistry technologies to Australia. For example, under current regulation a product deemed safe in equivalent markets such as Europe, United States or New Zealand may need to be re-certified afresh in Australia, which can add millions of dollars to business costs through unnecessary duplication. If Australia is to take maximum advantage of 21st century opportunities, we need to continue to release the handbrake that inefficient and inconsistent regulation presents for the Australian chemistry industry.
“The Australian chemicals and plastics industry plays a critical enabling role, supplying inputs to 109 of Australia’s 111 industries. This means that reducing the regulatory burden for the Australian chemistry industry will multiply benefits, creating jobs and investment in supply chains across Australia,” she said.
“The industry’s Strategic Roadmap, ‘Adding Value’ identifies that inefficient regulation of the Australian chemistry industry has not only seen Australia miss out on the introduction of latest technologies, it also highlights that the myriad, complex and often inconsistent rules is a major productivity roadblock that diminishes the capacity of business to effectively manage its activities.
“While this Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill represents an essential first step, these deregulation efforts need to continue. In 2008, the Productivity Commission recommended a complete suite of measures to reform the framework of chemical regulation in Australia. While some individual measures have been progressed, the broader framework should now be re-examined within the current deregulation agenda,” said Ms Read.
“This is the real opportunity – balancing the regulatory environment will maximise Australia’s capacity to grow a critical, strategic industry at the same time as achieving better outcomes for communities, the economy and the environment.
“The Australian chemistry industry contributes $40bn to Australia’s economy and directly employs over 60,000 people in skilled jobs,” Ms Read said.
Download the ‘PACIA Strategic Industry Roadmap’
Media contact: Claire Selby, [email protected], 0448 028 876.
Released 25 March 2014
About PACIA
PACIA is the pre-eminent national body representing Australia¹s $40bn chemistry industry, whose businesses directly employ 60,000 people and contribute approximately 11.5% of total Australian manufacturing production. PACIA members comprise a broad range of companies positioned across the entire value chain. Members include chemicals manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, plastics fabricators and compounders, chemicals and plastics recyclers and service providers to the industry. These businesses range from small family-owned companies and innovative medium-sized enterprises, to leading national and multinational enterprises.
