Cost recovery for licensing schemes has not been considered in this impact analysis , as any decision to offset government costs of administering a licensing framework through a fee structure would be a policy decision for each jurisdiction to make .
If governments choose to pass the costs of a licensing framework on to PCBUs , this may in turn be passed on to consumers with an increase in costs for goods and services related to engineered stone , including increased costs associated with the removal or repair of already installed stone , as well as an increase in costs for engineered stone and substitute products . There may also be environmental costs to the community associated with the disposal of unused stock of engineered stone in landfill .
4.1.2 Time period for appraisal
This impact analysis considers the costs and benefits of the prohibition options over the implementation period and a 10-year operational period , referred to as the appraisal period throughout .
4.1.3 Avoiding double counting and financial transfers
The impact analysis avoids counting the same costs and benefits multiple times as they move through the economy by attributing impacts to the group directly impacted . For example , higher production and licensing fees are assigned to PCBUs , though the costs may eventually be passed onto consumers through higher prices for goods and services . Direct financial transfers between different groups are also excluded ( e . g . licensing fees from PCBUs to governments ), as these do not lead to a net change in costs or benefits to society .
4.1.4 Data sources
The cost estimates developed for this Prohibition Decision RIS are based on information on costs collected through :
� the Decision Regulation Impact Statement for Managing the Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica at Work published in February 2023 ( Silica Decision RIS ; SWA , 2023 )
� public consultation on prohibition on the use of engineered stone undertaken in March and April 2023 ( consultation to inform the Prohibition Decision RIS ; SWA , 2023 ), and
� targeted desktop analysis where there were gaps in information .
4.1.5 Dealing with uncertainty
A paucity of data has meant the modelling of the costs of the prohibition options were based on assumptions in several instances , documented in Appendix B .
4.1.6 Base case
The impacts of the prohibition options have been assessed against the base case . The base case represents the status quo or continued operation of the regulatory environment as is , including committed policy decisions .
The base case includes the existing duties under the model WHS Act , model WHS Regulations and relevant model Codes of Practice . It assumes compliance and enforcement activities of state and territory WHS regulators and education and awareness activities undertaken by governments and industry groups will continue at current levels . It is anticipated that such activities will continue regardless of what option may be chosen by decision makers .
DECISION REGULATION IMPACT STATEMENT Prohibition on the use of engineered stone Page 31 of 107