University of Tasmania, Australia

The aim of this project is to obtain, on behalf of the Tasmanian Government, baseline information on the cost to Tasmanian businesses of administrative and regulatory compliance; to obtain a more detailed and targeted analysis of Tasmanian businesses’ engagement with the digital economy; and to inform and assess the overall impact of government programs that seek to improve business competitiveness and innovation, and which aim to encourage engagement with the digital economy. 

The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts (DEDTA) is developing an Economic Development Plan (EDP), an evidence-based and flexible plan which will provide a whole-of-government approach to improving Tasmania’s prosperity.

New Government programs, under the EDP, will undergo an impact assessment to measure how they contribute to the EDP goals.  A baseline survey will establish the conditions against which the effects of completed programs/projects can be measured and assessed.

Currently, DEDTA requires current and accurate information regarding the cost to Tasmanian business of administrative and regulatory compliance, and on the level of engagement of Tasmanian businesses with the digital economy, in order to conduct impact assessments of projects being implemented by DEDTA’s Digital Futures and Enterprise Development Units.

The AIRC has conducted a baseline survey to gather data that will, firstly, inform the development and targeting of a number of programs aiming to assist Tasmanian businesses, as well as facilitate the future impact assessment of those programs.  Secondly, the data will inform the development and target of a number of programs aimed at encouraging Tasmanian business to engage with the digital economy (eg having an online presence, eCommerce), and to facilitate the future impact assessment of those programs.

The survey has gathered data based on industry sectors, firm size, and region.  Key findings will be presented at workshops for stakeholders, as well as in a final report.

This will assist the Government to understand the financial and time costs to Tasmanian businesses of administrative and regulatory compliance; provide knowledge regarding the capability of Tasmanian businesses to engage with the digital economy; and improve DEDTA’s capacity to undertake impact assessments of its programs.  

The survey was conducted over November and December 2011, and achieved a response rate of 61%.  Data processing was completed in the first half of 2012. 

Survey reports have been submitted to DEDTA (Data on small business internet usage in Tasmania: report from the 2011 baseline survey; Regulatory burden for smaller businesses in Tasmania: report from the 2011 baseline survey), and the results will be published in the second half of 2012.

Members

• Professor Anthony Arundel
• Kieran O'Brien
• Dr Ann Torugsa