Australian Businesses Weighed Down by 150,000 New Rules, Restrictions Since 2003: Report

The constant growth of restrictive laws and regulations has fettered business and contributed to declining productivity and innovation.

This picture taken on April 15, 2025 shows people walking among the high-rise buildings in Sydney's central business district at the end of office hours in Australia. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images

An Australian think tank has catalogued over 150,000 red tape restrictions or rules developed since 2003 that are holding back the country’s economy.

Ahead of its annual conference, the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) released its latest report which found a 39 percent increase in the sheer volume of restrictions on businesses over a 20-year period.