This review provides the opportunity to benchmark the performance of local government regulatory activities and how they impact on businesses.

There are 560 local government areas in Australia. They play an important role in delivering policies of all governments at the grass roots and thus impact on the effectiveness of programs initiated by national and state/territory governments. In most states, they can also make their own local laws. However, not enough is known about the capacities and effectiveness of local government regulatory functions. This review provides the opportunity to benchmark the performance of local government regulatory activities and how they impact on businesses to identify leading practices that reduce unnecessary regulatory costs while still delivering on policy goals.

This is a public study, and the Commission invites any interested party to make a written submission. Submissions should be lodged with the Commission by 31 October 2011.

Submissions may range from a short letter outlining your views on a particular topic to a more substantial document covering a range of issues relevant to the study's terms of reference.