{"id":"F2020L01439","name":"Industry Research and Development (Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program) Instrument 2020","slug":"industry-research-and-development-digital-readiness-assessment-tool-program-instrument-2020","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":440661,"registerId":"F2020L01439-fast-fetch-1775956221347","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Industry Research and Development (Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program) Instrument 2020","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nIndustry Research and Development (Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program) Instrument 2020\n\nI, Karen Andrews, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, make the following instrument.\n\nDated 18 November 2020\n\nKaren Andrews\n\nMinister for Industry, Science and Technology\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Definitions\n\n5 Prescribed program\n\n6 Specified legislative power\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Industry Research and Development (Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program) Instrument 2020.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this instrument The day after this instrument is registered. 20 November 2020\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 33 of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Industry Research and Development Act 1986.\n\nprogram: see subsection 5(1).\n\n5  Prescribed program\n\n (1) For the purposes of subsection 33(1) of the Act, the Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program (the program) is prescribed.\n\n (2) The program provides funding to develop and operate an online self‑assessment tool that will:\n\n (a) assist Australian businesses to assess their digital maturity and capability; and\n\n (b) inform Australian businesses about existing government programs and resources to increase their digital maturity and capability.\n\n (3) The purpose of the program is to:\n\n (a) accelerate the adoption of digital technologies by Australian businesses; and\n\n (b) drive long-term growth and business resilience in Australia.\n\n6  Specified legislative power\n\n  For the purposes of subsection 33(3) of the Act, the power of the Parliament to make laws with respect to postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and other like services (within the meaning of paragraph 51(v) of the Constitution) is specified.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"No. The instrument simply prescribes a single program that funds and operates an online self‑assessment tool and states its purpose and legal basis. It does not amend the Industry Research and Development Act or broaden legislative fields beyond specifying the communications head of power; implementation details and spending remain for the Commonwealth to determine (s3, s5)."},"complexity_factors":["Legal effect depends on parent Act and the Minister's power under s33 (instrument s3; s5(1))","Authorises funding for a single, narrowly described program without setting budget limits, eligibility criteria, procurement rules or reporting requirements—leaving operational discretion to administering agency (s5(2))","Purpose statements are high‑level (accelerate adoption, drive growth) with no measurable targets or evaluation framework specified (s5(3))","Specifies constitutional head for the measure (postal/telegraphic/telephonic and like services) without changing program content (s6)","Low direct compliance burden on businesses because the instrument creates an informational, voluntary tool rather than mandatory obligations (s5(2))","Commencement mechanics are straightforward and administrative (s2); substantive effect flows from the Act rather than complex transitional arrangements"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument prescribes the \"Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program\" under the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 and authorises funding to develop and operate an online self‑assessment tool to help Australian businesses assess digital maturity and locate relevant government supports (s5(1)–(2)).\n\nIts stated purpose is to accelerate digital adoption and support long‑term growth (s5(3)). Participation is voluntary; implementation and funding choices rest with the Commonwealth under the Act (s3, s5(2))."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument remains tightly scoped to its original purpose: establishing a single, specific program (the Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program). It does not expand beyond prescribing the program's existence, its basic function, and its constitutional basis. The scope is narrow and purpose-built, with no evidence of legislative creep or mission expansion."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 6 sections spanning 2 pages","Only 2 defined terms ('Act' and 'program')","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling Act","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward declarative structure: name, commence, define, prescribe, specify power","Single purpose instrument with no operational detail (funding mechanics, eligibility criteria, or compliance obligations handled elsewhere or not at all)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument establishes the Digital Readiness Assessment Tool Program: a government-funded online self-assessment for Australian businesses to gauge digital maturity and be directed to relevant government supports. \n\nMade under the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 and grounded on the Commonwealth’s communications power (s.51(v)), it legally prescribes the program so government can operate and fund the diagnostic and signposting service to boost business competitiveness and resilience."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-digital-readiness-assessment-tool-program-instrument-2020","history":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-digital-readiness-assessment-tool-program-instrument-2020/history","analysis":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-digital-readiness-assessment-tool-program-instrument-2020/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-digital-readiness-assessment-tool-program-instrument-2020/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-digital-readiness-assessment-tool-program-instrument-2020/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/industry-research-and-development-digital-readiness-assessment-tool-program-instrument-2020/documents"}}