Calculator guidance

material
The time-cost calculator is designed to enable a user-friendly and efficient method of
estimating time-based compliance costs for the purposes of regulatory impact
analysis, based on the method outlined in the Victorian Guide to Regulation and its
associated Toolkits.
The calculator asks a series of questions that need to be answered before the costs
can be estimated. All fields must be filled out for the estimate to be calculated. Note
that the required fields will vary according to the information provided along the way.

Stage 1. Start a new calculation

To begin a new calculation click on Start a new calculation located on the Instructions
tab of the Excel file.

A pop-up window with the time cost calculator will appear. To progress through your
calculation click on the Next button located at the bottom of the window.
If you need to amend information provided on a prior tab, click on the Previous
button.
Please note all information will be lost if you exit the calculator without completing all
of the required information fields.
Stage 2. Purpose

The following sections are required to be filled out to determine the purpose of the
proposed regulatory change:

Regulatory change
Enter a short description, or title, to summarise the proposed regulatory change.

Commencement year
From the drop-down menu select the year in which the regulatory change will come
into effect. Options from the years 2012 to 2021 are available to select from.

Number of years changes in force

Select the period of time that the change will be enforced for. This can range from one
to 10 years, with 10 years being the maximum.

Purpose
Select the purpose for which you are using the time-cost calculator between a
Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) and a Regulatory Change Measurement (RCM).
Only one option for the purpose of the proposed regulatory change can be selected.
Upon selection of the purpose, required fields will adjust accordingly.
Note the following definitions of a RIS and RCM:
A RIS is a formal policy development and evaluation process required in Victoria
that assesses the options available to government to meet a policy objective based
on an analytical cost-benefit framework that examines the economic, social and
environmental impacts of the legislative proposals.
 A RCM is a consistent and straightforward approach for Victorian agencies to
measure the impact of changes in regulatory requirements and processes that
contribute to the governments red tape target.

Sector involved
Select whether the regulatory change applies to the business or leisure sectors. Only
one option can be selected in this field, either Business or Leisure. Upon selection of
the purpose, required fields will adjust accordingly.
If the regulatory change applies to both sectors, complete a calculation for each sector
and then add them together.
Note for licence changes:
If you are dealing with Professional Licences, select the Business option and
enter the number of licences in the field Number of businesses or households
affected. An example of a professional licence is a liquor licence.
If you are dealing with Personal Licences, select the Leisure option and enter
the number of licences in the field Number of businesses or households affected.
An example of a leisure licence is a recreational fishing licence.
Average annual growth (percentage)
This field requires a figure that reflects the average growth of businesses or
households that will be affected by the proposed regulatory change. For example, if
dealing with personal licences, the average annual growth figure may be in line with
population growth. An estimated percentage value is required (it can be a positive,
zero or negative number and decimals are accepted).

Stage 3. Frequency and time

This section is used to determine the difference between current regulatory

interventions and proposed regulatory interventions.

Circumstances of the regulatory change being assessed

Only one option can be selected in this field:
Regulations are continuing in amended form: This option calculates the
difference in cost between the current regulatory requirements and the proposed
regulatory requirements. This option will primarily be used for RCMs. For example,
a monthly reporting requirement has been amended and is now only required
quarterly or the reporting requirement has been streamlined to require less
information and consequently takes less time to prepare.
Regulatory requirements are ceasing or lapsing: This option calculates the
cost of the current regulatory requirements which are proposed to be removed.
This option will primarily be used for RCMs. For example, a monthly reporting
requirement has been removed.
New regulatory requirements are being introduced: This option calculates
the cost of the proposed regulatory requirements. This is the option that should be
 used for RISs, even RISs for remade sunsetting regulations, as it calculates the
total cost of a regulatory requirement against the base case of no regulation. For
example, the regulations contain a monthly reporting requirement.

Current regulatory intervention frequency

From the drop down menu select the regulation intervention frequency under the
current regulatory regime. The options include: Annual, Biannual, Quarterly,
Monthly, Fortnightly, Weekly, Daily or Other.
If Other is selected some new fields will appear in the dialogue box. Fill out the
required fields on the current frequency in terms of either Years, Months, Weeks or
Days. Whole numbers must be used in this field.

Proposed regulatory intervention frequency

If the proposed new intervention is the same frequency as the current regulatory
regime, select the check box. Proceed to the next section by clicking Next.
If the proposed new intervention is a different frequency to the current regulatory
regime, from the drop down menu select the regulation intervention frequency that is
proposed in the regulatory change. The options include: Annual, Biannual,
Quarterly, Monthly, Fortnightly, Weekly, Daily or Other.
If Other is selected, fill out the required fields on the proposed frequency in terms of
either Years, Months, Weeks or Days. Whole numbers must be used in this field.

Next
If you selected Business as the sector involved in the Purpose tab, you will now be
directed to the Business Time Use questions (stages 4-5).
If you selected Leisure as the sector involved in the Purpose tab, you will now be
directed to the Leisure Time Use tab (stage 6).
Stage 4. Business time use: current

The business time use section is used to compare the amount of time and the level of
skill of workers involved in implementing the current and the proposed regulatory
process. Note that whole numbers must be entered in each of the required fields.
Where the level of skill of workers in implementing the regulatory processes is
unknown, complete the Any Worker fields.
Under the Business Time Use: Current tab, you must enter all information based on
the existing regulatory processes. The first column requires an estimate of how many
of each type of worker is involved in the process under the current framework. The
second and third columns require an estimate of the amount of time that each worker
spends on the process.
Stage 5. Business time use: new

This section must be completed based on the new regulatory process. Note that whole
numbers must be entered in each of the required fields.
If there is no change in time between the current and proposed new regulatory
requirements, select the check box and click Finish. (Note that the remaining text
fields will disappear when this is selected.)
Or
If there are changes between the current and proposed changes, proceed to fill out the
required fields. The first column requires an estimate of how many of each type of
worker is involved in the process under the current framework. The second and third
columns require an estimate of the amount of time that each worker spends on the
process.
This is the final stage of the calculation. Upon clicking Finish the final cost estimation
output is generated. This will open in two tabs of the Excel file. One tab provides the
overall figure. The other tab provides the calculations that underpin the overall figure.
Stage 6. Leisure: time use

The leisure time use section is used to compare the amount of time and the number of
households required to complete the regulatory task under the current and the
proposed regulatory processes. Note that whole numbers must be entered in each of
the required fields.
The first column requires an estimate of how many people need to undertake the
process under the current framework. The second and third columns require an
estimate of the amount of time that each individual spends on the process.
If there is no change in time between the current and proposed new regulatory
requirements, select the check box.
This is the final stage of the calculation. Upon clicking Finish the final cost estimation
output is generated. This will open in a new tab of the Excel file.

Further assistance
For further assistance on using the time-cost calculator please contact the Regulatory
Reform Team in the Department of Treasury and Finance on 03 9651 2278.