Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

Before the election, the coalition promised to cut red-tape costs by $1 billion each year, and the government is getting on with the job of cutting unnecessary regulation. Under the former government, almost 21,000 new regulations became part of our national life. Best practice regulation is necessary but it is fair to say that our therapeutic goods regulations are overdue for an upgrade. The terms of reference indicate the panel will consider changes to outdated or irrelevant regulations that have built up over time. If accepted by government, these recommendations will contribute to the annual red-tape reduction target.

Consistent with the coalition's industry, innovation and competitiveness agenda, the panel will benchmark the regulatory arrangements for therapeutic goods against trusted international competitors and explore how international evaluations can be better utilised to ensure timely patient access.