Government reviews university red tape RED tape tying up university staff time will be reviewed before the September federal election. Universities estimate they spend $280 million a year meeting red tape requirements for a raft of government agencies. Most institutions had between 15 and 20 staff whose sole job was to meet the regulatory requirements of 100 separate state and federal laws. Tertiary Education Minister Craig Emerson on Wednesday announced an independent review of regulatory compliance and reporting in response to these concerns. Reviewers are expected to report back before the government moves into caretaker period in August. An earlier report commissioned by the tertiary education department recommended the government establish a single body to collect higher education data across the country so universities only had to report to one place instead of duplicating data reports for different agencies. Universities Australia welcomed the departmental review of data collection and administrative requirements, saying it showed the government was listening to the sector. "We cannot afford to have the sector bound up in heavy-handed, costly and unnecessary red tape where the purpose is unclear," chief executive Belinda Robinson said in a statement.