South Australian businesses have been consistent: if the government wants to lift productivity and support growth, it needs to deal with red tape.
This has been reinforced nationally, with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) launching its new Path to Prosperity report, calling for coordinated action across all levels of government to reduce unnecessary regulation and compliance costs. The message is clear: if we want stronger economic growth, we need to make it easier to do business.
Click Here to view the full report.
ACCI’s report highlights a familiar theme of complex approval processes, duplication across levels of government, and expanding reporting requirements are adding cost and slowing investment, delaying projects and undermining productivity growth.
For many SA businesses, that is not theory. It is day-to-day reality.
What our data shows
In our September 2025 Survey of Business Expectations, the category of ‘government policies, legislation and compliance’ remained one of the top issues affecting business performance.
More than half of respondents (53.8%) identified it as a key pressure on their operations, placing it equal second among the main issues affecting business.
Across sectors from manufacturing and construction to health care and agriculture, businesses reported that compliance loads, regulatory uncertainty and approval delays are consuming time and money that could otherwise be directed to growth and investment.
Comments from SA businesses pointed to:
For small and medium businesses in particular, regulatory burden is not just a cost – it’s a capacity constraint.
Our position
The SA Business Chamber’s Pre-Election Charter26 lists Red Tape Reduction as our number one priority under Productivity and Economic Growth.
In addition to backing ACCI’s call for a dedicated Cabinet-level Minister for Red Tape Reduction at the national level, we are calling on the next State Government to commit to a whole-of-government Red Tape Reduction Program, including:
The objective is straightforward: make regulation work better for business without lowering standards.
Why this matters
Red tape is rarely one large barrier. More often, it is the accumulation of small changes including additional reporting, new compliance steps, and overlapping approvals that gradually increase cost and risk.
Businesses do not expect zero regulation. They do expect clarity, consistency and reasonable timeframes.
At a time when margins remain tight and cost pressures persist; regulatory efficiency is one of the most practical levers government can pull to improve business conditions.
The national conversation sparked by ACCI’s report aligns closely with what we are hearing from SA businesses through our surveys, consultations and industry forums.
Your input matters
We regularly engage with Ministers, Shadow Ministers, senior public servants and regulators across multiple forums.
Specific, practical examples of red tape carry weight in those discussions.
If you have encountered unnecessary duplication, inconsistent interpretation of rules, excessive delays, or compliance requirements that could be simplified, we encourage you to contact the SA Business Chamber Policy Team at policy@sabusinesschamber.com.au
Your real-world examples help us advocate more effectively. With your input, we can continue to push for practical reforms that make it easier to do business in South Australia.
