The Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) welcomes the commitment by the Prime Minister the Hon Tony Abbott MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, to cut red tape by accepting assessments already made by trusted international regulators.
“Recognising the regulatory outcomes of overseas regulators from trusted international jurisdictions, such as the European Union, will reduce complexity and help facilitate the introduction of newer, better and safer chemicals into the Australian market,” said PACIA CEO Samantha Read.
“The introduction of newer products and technologies facilitated through chemistry – technologies that our international competitors are already using to their advantage – has the potential to be a major stimulus for Australia’s competitiveness, supporting jobs, innovation and investment.
“These new products and innovations will have diverse applications, including to make agriculture more productive, sustainable and profitable; reinvigorate and facilitate advanced manufacturing industries; and enable new medical technologies.
“The benefits of this announcement will extend beyond the Australian chemistry industry. This will also have significant positive flow on effects for the productivity of the entire Australian economy.
“The Australian chemicals and plastics industry plays a critical enabling role, supplying inputs to 109 of Australia’s 111 industries. This means reducing the regulatory complexity for the Australian chemistry industry will multiply benefits through supply chains across Australia.
“Balancing Australia’s regulatory framework is identified as an urgent action in the industry’s Strategic Roadmap, ‘Adding Value’. The Roadmap documents that the inefficient regulation of the Australian chemistry industry has not only seen Australia miss out on the introduction of the latest and safest technologies, it also highlights that the myriad, complex and often inconsistent rules are a major roadblock impairing productivity.
“The announcement today recognises the industry’s proactive leadership and supports business to more efficiently manage its activities. Reducing the regulatory complexity for this key industry will be a boost to Australia’s reputation as an attractive market for investment and innovation in chemistry, and improve our readiness to take advantage of emerging markets in Asia.
“The industry is committed to working with governments to deliver a balanced regulatory environment that protects workers, the community and the environment while delivering a business environment that stimulates growth, innovation and trade.
“The Australian chemistry industry is Australia’s second largest manufacturing sector, contributing $40bn to Australia’s economy and directly employing over 60,000 people in skilled jobs,” Ms Read said.
Media contact: Claire Selby, [email protected], 0448 028 876.
Released 14 October 2014
About PACIA
PACIA is the pre-eminent national body representing Australia¹s $40bn chemistry industry, whose businesses directly employ 60,000 people and contribute approximately 11.5% of total Australian manufacturing production. PACIA members comprise a broad range of companies positioned across the entire value chain. Members include chemicals manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, plastics fabricators and compounders, chemicals and plastics recyclers and service providers to the industry. These businesses range from small family-owned companies and innovative medium-sized enterprises, to leading national and multinational enterprises.
