Reducing red tape 
Text version Home page
> Management Advisory Committee > Reducing red tape in the APS > Checklist for reduction of internal red tape > Next: Contributors
‹ Previous page
Last updated: 1 March 2007
Reducing red tape in the APS
Appendix 2: Checklist for reduction of internal red tape
A framework for design and review
Requirements are to be efficient and effective, and the benefits are to substantially exceed the costs.
Use a four-stage process to design or review requirements:
- design and analysis
- stakeholder consultation
- independent advice
- decision-making.
Ensure that design and review processes are commensurate with the nature and scale of the matter.
Design and analysis
Analyse in order to define the issue of concern and identify viable options. Consider ranking viable options on a preliminary assessment of likely benefits and costs; this will highlight the better option.
Assess the impacts of the preferred option, develop an implementation and review strategy, and reach a conclusion about the preferred option.
Document the results of the analysis to assist the independent adviser and the decision maker.
Stakeholder consultation
Consultation is recommended for all requirements, but required for whole-of-government requirements in all but exceptional circumstances.
Consult broadly for significant whole-of-government requirements.
Consultation on minor whole-of-government requirements should include key stakeholders or a small group of aff ected agencies.
Make those stakeholders consulted aware of the policy objective of the requirement and give them information on implementation.
Give stakeholders a reasonable opportunity to comment, and provide them with feedback on how their comments have been addressed.
Where there are subsequent substantial changes to the requirement, or a different option is pursued, consider the need for further consultation.
Independent advice
Identify an appropriate independent adviser for proposed internal requirements.
Refer significant whole-of-government requirements to the Red Tape Deputy Secretaries Group for feedback unless exclusive formal consultation at Chief Executive level has been undertaken. In such cases, the use of the Red Tape Deputy Secretaries Group may still have merit given their explicit focus on red tape.
Provide the independent adviser with a summary of all viable options, and the outcomes of the assessment substantiating the preferred option. Also provide the results of the analysis of the preferred option and outcomes of the stakeholder consultation.
The independent adviser is to consider whether the proposed requirement meets the three underlying principles of the framework.
Deal with matters raised by the independent adviser before seeking a decision to implement the requirement.
Decision-making
Decisions should be taken at a level appropriate to the proposed requirement, with significant whole-of-government requirements to be decided at least at Deputy Secretary level.
Provide the decision maker with the analysis of the preferred option and other relevant information, including the outcomes of stakeholder consultations and independent advice and any action taken to address concerns.
The decision maker is to consider whether good process has been followed, the recommended requirement meets the principles, and appropriate review has been scheduled.
Periodic review
Develop a programme of review for internal and whole-of-government requirements.
Regularly reassess and, where necessary, update the review programme.
Review internal requirements every three to five years.
Review whole-of-government requirements every five to ten years.
Review whole-of-government requirements that were not adequately analysed after the first year of implementation.
Identify possible reviews of specific whole-of-government requirements for consultation with the Red Tape Deputy Secretaries Group, pending agreement of Portfolio Secretaries.
Ensure that requirements that are subject to sunset provisions are reviewed well in advance of the sunset date.
