Fed: Blueprint by midyear on mental health=4

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2006
Fed: Blueprint by midyear on mental health=4

Mr Howard said COAG had agreed to a new streamlined approach to infrastructure regulation,
but not on a single national regulator.

"In the area of infrastructure regulation we have agreed on an improved streamlined
approach that will involve a requirement that approvals be given within six months, a
common set of principles and a common certification process," Mr Howard said.

"The commonwealth is of a view that there would be an advantage in having a single
national regulator, particularly in relation to export infrastructure, and we reserve
the right to legislate to that effect, although we would want to see how the new arrangements
operate in relation to that."

Mr Howard said the key decision from the meeting had been agreement to a national reform agenda.

"(This) will take forward the process of economic reform in the human capital area,
in competition, in infrastructure and in human services," he said.

"I think it's fair to say that when people see the scope of this plan and recognise
that there has been a total endorsement of it by the commonwealth and the states, you
will see that there has been made today an investment ... of a decade and beyond commitment
to further improving the productivity of the Australian economy."

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KEYWORD: COAG HOWARD 4 CANBERRA

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