You are missing the point Runner. The government acted upon the High Courts decision over Mabo and took the tougher and just route of reinforcing the decision into legislation rather than the next government legislating away the High Courts Wik decision. Prime Minister at the time is a renowned anglophile but that is beside the point.
Red tape is just rhetoric for regulation but regulation is hardly just there for the sake of having regulation although I respect that some may want to debate the merit of that statement.
"Green tape" is just a false contrivance developed by the current government to push it's agenda and to campaign its way into office. It's a state issue unless it is EPBC Act 1999 relivent which covers habitats of national significance in relation to our international law obligations. The EPBC Act accomodates bilateral agreements between the the States and Territories nullifying duplication of the environmental assessment process. All that remains with the Commonwealth is the final approval.
The EPBC act is quite the friend of this Federal Government because it is somewhat flawed in it's purpose to safeguard the environment.
We can disagree on what the course they took.
Green tape will be part of heads of gov't review along with tax. There are a few areas of overlap as you point out but to get a federal law over all state laws would assist in consistancy and effect Clive and his like.
Regulation can be there just because time has passed and no one has updated it. I remember that the law reform commission recommends changes all the time tio bring laws up to date and scrap others. In NSW before the gov't changed reg's a corner shop required 114 licenses and regulations to obey e.g. tobbaco, milk, etc.
Look at the rules around business and see whay it costs more here than in most places to run businesses.
That is before you even look at the work practices laws here.
