from the ABC ….. 

Govt to slash business red tape 

Prime Minister John Howard and
Treasurer Peter Costello will today announce a package to cut red tape for
business and make it easier for small firms to access the new workplace
relations laws. 

Mr Howard and Mr Costello will
unveil the package in Melbourne today. 

They will also announce that the
cost of incorporating a business will be cut from $800 to $400. 

This will make it cheaper for
smaller firms to take advantage of the WorkChoices legislation, including
the exemption from unfair dismissal provisions. 

The package is expected to cost
about $200 million over four years. 

Mr Costello has received a report
from a task force led by the Productivity Commission chairman Gary Banks
that made recommendations on how to slash red tape.