Australia and New Zealand will work together to improve and modernise regulation and reduce unnecessary compliance burdens, including those that are acting as barriers to achieving net zero targets.
We want to cut red tape where we responsibly can, to ease the burden on businesses, boost trade and make our economies more productive and resilient.
Today we welcome the release of the report the Australian Treasury commissioned from University of Queensland Professor Flavio Menezes to review regulatory standards acting as barriers to achieving net zero.
This is a direct result of work we jointly commissioned at the 2024 Australia-New Zealand Climate and Finance 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
The report highlights adoption and recognition of standards for secondary batteries and electric vehicle charging infrastructure as an area where better regulation could help improve EV uptake, but its findings and recommendations extend beyond these specific areas.
It also underscores the importance of adopting best‑practice regulatory approaches to support the transition and our economic performance as we look to deepen the Single Economic Market.
Both Governments' will use this report to help inform better regulatory settings to improve trade and help lift living standards in Australia and New Zealand.
By ensuring access to higher quality, safer, and more affordable goods and services, we are laying the foundation for a more efficient and resilient Trans‑Tasman marketplace.
Potential opportunities to align standards could include the following areas:
- Building and construction standards
- EV Charging
- Electrical Products
- Product safety standards
The value of closer alignment in key regulatory areas to boost productivity and advance our shared vision of a seamless Single Economic Market couldn't be more important at a time of global uncertainty.
We look forward to continuing this important work in New Zealand later this year for the 2025 2+2 Dialogue.
