Annual Regulatory Plan

ASNO's regulatory plan, 2011-12

These pages set out ASNO's regulatory plan.

ASNO, like other Commonwealth agencies which have responsibility for business regulation, is required to publish a regulatory plan on its website early in each financial year. The regulatory plan deals with changes within the agency's area of responsibility and contains information about:

• changes to business regulation which have occurred since the beginning of the previous financial year; and
• activities planned in the current financial year which could lead to changes to business regulation.

What regulation does a regulatory plan cover?

A regulatory plan covers business regulation. This includes primary legislation, subordinate legislation, quasi-regulation or treaties which directly affect business, have a significant indirect effect on business, or restrict competition.

Quasi-regulation refers to rules or arrangements where governments influence businesses to comply, but which do not form part of explicit government regulation.

A regulatory plan does not include information about the following:

• regulations of a minor or machinery nature that do not substantially alter existing arrangements;
• regulations that involve consideration of specific Government purchases;
• regulations of a state or self-governing territory that apply in a non-self governing territory; and
• anticipated activity about which it would be inappropriate to publish information on grounds of confidentiality.

In addition, there may be regulatory activities undertaken during the next financial year which have not been included in a regulatory plan because they could not be foreseen when the plan was prepared.

In view of these exclusions, users should not take a regulatory plan to be a comprehensive source of information on past or potential changes to business regulation.

Regulatory activity planned for the financial year 2011–12

Chemical weapons

• Requirement to clarify permit arrangements for Schedule 1 consumption facilities, formalise notification arrangements for Schedule 2 facilities that do not qualify for permits and other minor amendments.

Nuclear safeguards

• Replacement of the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the European Atomic Energy Community concerning Transfers of Nuclear Material from Australia to the European Energy Community
• Proposed Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Arab Emirates on Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Regulatory changes that occurred during:

2010–11

Extension to the Agreement between Australia and the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Russian Federation on Co-operation in the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes

2009–10

No regulatory changes occurred that relate to the regulatory plan

2008–09

Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)

2007–08

No regulatory changes occurred that relate to the regulatory plan

2006–07

Introduction of the Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Act 2007, to amend laws about non-proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, and for related purposes

Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Transfer of nuclear material, and
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People's Republic of China for Cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

2004–05 and 2005–06

No regulatory changes occurred that relate to the regulatory plan

2003–04

Introduction of the Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Act 2003, to amend laws about non-proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, and for related purposes.

2002–03

Reapplication of the Safeguards Act to depleted uranium in non-nuclear use.