Interests overtake red tape speed bumps

Last week, the Parliament progressed the Regulation Reform Bill. It was a short piece of work and in one section it removed the need for distributors of CDs and DVDs to "affix a label to the item", meaning they can just stick it on the packet it is wrapped in. Having to unwrap the CD or DVD, stick a label on it and rewrap it costs about $200,000 per month and this cost was passed on to the buyer.

As an MP, these little gems crop up all the time. It was red tape that stopped speed restriction signs being moved in a few minutes at Normanby overbridge.

It is red tape that means vehicles which are certified to higher standards in Australia, need to be re-certified to lower standards before sale here.

Of course red tape is a frustration and a farce when it works against you but acts as an "interesting loophole" when it allows us to do what we want to in spite of someone else.

It helps prevent pest incursions at the border, unsafe vehicles on our roads, playground accidents and exploding gas cylinders. It places limits on the excesses of greedy people who would push the boundaries of safety, usury, profit, and the vulnerability of others without the threat of regulatory sanction.

Red tape is closely linked to the curse of unintended consequences. Red tape will prevent a local kindergarten from expanding because it is only allowed so much space for so many kids - so five teachers sit in a room built for two.

It'll see the demolition of perfectly good buildings because regulations only allow so many classrooms with a falling school roll. It means a school bus has to stop 500m short of where the kids are waiting safely.

Back country huts are removed from wilderness areas because the piles under the floor are 20cm too far apart. Low hanging branches are cut from trees in a playground in case a child falls out of a tree and we grizzle because our kids spend so much time watching television.

Little lines in legislation can open or close the door on opportunity. We regulate for the 5 per cent of people prepared to disregard the law but restrict only those who choose to obey it. The secret is to make positive changes and recognise legislation can only work if people are willing to make it work. Regulation by community expectation is the most effective "red tape".