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Reading a Regulatory Impact Statement

What a regulatory impact statement is meant to tell you -- and what it often leaves out.

The Legislative Centre · Published March 2026

  • Regulatory Affairs
  • Public Policy

A regulatory impact statement should explain the problem, the options considered, the likely costs and benefits, the groups affected and the basis for the preferred regulatory approach. A critical reading tests whether the evidence supports those choices and whether implementation risks are addressed.

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The Legislative Centre