Since the 1970s, Australian governments have sought to reduce regulatory burdens, particularly on business, subject regulation to rigorous cost–benefit analysis and constrain both the stock and flow of new regulation. Yet, however, measured, regulation continues to grow, frequently in response to community demand. In this article, we interrogate both the more extreme claims of the anti-regulation advocates and the alleged successes of anti-red tape initiatives, identifying a critical clash of values over the role of the state and the appropriate relationship between government, business and the community. We conclude by arguing that to deliver desirable societal, economic and democratic outcomes, we need to acknowledge regulation as an asset, professionalise its workforce and more actively assert its public value.

中文翻译：

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繁文缛节的“永恒之战”和改善监管的斗争

自 1970 年代以来，澳大利亚政府一直在寻求减轻监管负担，尤其是对企业的监管负担，对监管进行严格的成本效益分析，并限制新监管的存量和流动。然而，经过衡量，监管继续增长，通常是为了响应社区的需求。在本文中，我们审问了反监管倡导者的更为极端的主张和所谓的反繁文缛节举措的成功，确定了在国家角色以及政府、企业和政府之间的适当关系方面存在严重的价值观冲突。社区。我们最后认为，要实现理想的社会、经济和民主成果，我们需要承认监管是一种资产，使其劳动力专业化，并更积极地维护其公共价值。