Statutory authority
- Not to be confused with Statutory power, see Statute.
A statutory authority is a body set up by law which is authorised to enact legislation on behalf of the relevant country or state. They are typically found in countries which are governed by a British style of parliamentary democracy such as the UK and British Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India. They are also found in Israel and elsewhere.[1] In Britain, many such bodies are termed QUANGOs because of their semi-autonomous nature[citation needed].
Contents
Characteristics
The goals and objectives of a statutory authority are typically set out in the originating act or in subsequent governmental guidance or instruction. Its senior management are chosen by the relevant government (State or Federal) and will work closely with its associated ministry or ministries.
Australia
Federal statutory authorities are typically established under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. Statutory authorities at the State or Territory level are established under corresponding State or Territory laws. Each statutory authority tends to have its own enabling legislation, or originating act, even if it was established before the relevant over-riding legislation, For example, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was established in 1949 by the Science and Industry Research Act, but it has since come under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as legislation covering statutory authorities has evolved.
Laws made by statutory authorities are usually referred to as regulations. They are not cited in the same fashion as an act of parliament, but usually with specific initials (depending on the authority) and a number.
Just as Laws enacted by Parliament, all laws made by a statutory authority must be published in the Government Gazette.
Rationale
The Parliament of Australia, or a constituent State Parliament, will delegate its Authority to a statutory authority for several reasons;
- Efficiency - State and Federal Parliaments do not have the time nor resources to investigate, analyse, draft, enact and monitor laws for every area of our increasingly complex society. By delegation of legislative power to a statutory authority, a specialist body may subrogate parliament and use its authority in a more efficient manner
- Bipartisanship - Statutory authorities are usually responsible for areas of legislation where there is a common goal or direction desirable within the community. Delegation of authority away from parliament prevents these areas of law from becoming partisan issues.
- Transparency - The disclosure requirements placed upon statutory authorities are generally stricter than that of State and Federal Parliaments; statutory authorities cannot rely upon the same government secrets provisions as can State and Federal governments.
- Accountability - The jurisdiction of a statutory authority is expressly set out in its corresponding act (i.e. the Act of Parliament which created the statutory authority). This, therefore, makes switching, sharing or evasion of responsibility in the instance of a scandal more difficult for officers of the statutory authority.
Statutory Authorities in Australia
The power to enact legislation has been delegated by Australian Parliaments (State and/or Federal) in the following areas;
- Consumer affairs - Where authority is delegated to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Road and traffic safety - Where authority is delegated to various bodies by state, for example, VicRoads in Victoria
- Collection of taxes - Where authority is delegated to the Australian Taxation Office
- Corporate law - Where authority is delegated to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- Prudential regulation - Where authority is delegated to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
- Monetary Policy - Where authority is delegated to the Reserve Bank of Australia established by an Act of Parliament, the Reserve Bank Act 1959, which gives it specific powers and obligations.
- Workplace Health and Safety - Where authority is delegated to Safe Work Australia and to various bodies by state, for example, WorkSafe in Victoria and subsidiaries such as the Accident Compensation Conciliation Service
- Communications and Media - For example, ACMA is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications.
See also
- Regulatory agency
- Government-owned corporation
- Public administration
- Deregulation
- Statutory corporation
