The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed the Abbott Government’s decision to dedicate an entire sitting day to the repeal of redundant regulation on March 26 and is calling for it to be made a regular occurrence.

ARA executive director, Russell Zimmerman, said the ARA is encouraging all State and local Governments to follow the example of the US, where congress has regular repeal days to review the burden of red tape.

“Red tape is impeding Australian retailers. We hope the Abbott government uses this day to repeal redundant laws that impede retailers from doing business, not just removing clearly outdated laws, for example the law that exists in Victoria stating that only licensed electricians may change a light bulb,” Zimmerman said.

“We hope this repeal day will have a direct impact on retail businesses and see a significant reduction in unnecessary red tape.

“A law that is still enforced and impacts businesses requires them to tag and test all electrical products every 12 months, including mobile phone chargers, which produces low level 12 volts.

“Unreasonable and outdated regulation imposes unnecessary costs on business that are inevitably passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

“Australian retailers have been conveying a consistent message to the Government that there needs to be an urgent and significant reduction in regulation to improve Australia’s productivity and competitiveness.

“Dedicating Parliamentary sitting days to repealing regulation is certainly a step in the right direction and highlights the Coalitions’ commitment of cutting $1 billion in red tape each year to benefit retailers,” he said.