Free Trade Agreement, Sugar, MPs Superannuation
February 11, 2004Board Of Taxation Appointments
February 24, 2004
NO.009
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION REPORT
ON THE REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL ACCESS REGIME
The Treasurer has announced the Australian Government’s
final response to the Productivity Commission’s Report on the Review of the
National Access Regime (‘the Regime’). An interim response was released
on 17 September 2002.
The Government endorses the majority of the Commission’s 33 recommendations
and agrees that scope exists for improvements to the Regime. This includes,
for example, making changes to clarify the Regime’s objectives and scope, encourage
efficient investment in new infrastructure, strengthen incentives for commercial
negotiation and improve the certainty and transparency of regulatory processes.
The changes being proposed by the Government provide a balance
between ensuring a means for business to gain access to infrastructure while
providing incentives for new investment in essential infrastructure. The changes
are also designed to provide access seekers and investors with confidence and
certainty about the regulatory framework so they are able to make well informed
decisions.
The Australian Government has consulted with all jurisdictions
in developing its final response. These processes have been constructive, enabling
some clarification and improvements to the response. Overall, jurisdictions
largely supported the interim response and there have been no significant changes
in the final response.
The Australian Government will now introduce into Parliament
the legislative changes that give effect to the final response. Following this,
the Australian Government will consult further with jurisdictions to take forward
appropriate changes to Clause 6 of the Competition Principles Agreement, as
foreshadowed in the Government’s response.
The final response defers a number of the Productivity Commission
recommendations to the Review of the Gas Access Regime. The Productivity Commission’s
Review of the Gas Access Regime is scheduled to report to Government in June
2004. The Government will consider the recommendations of this review at that
time and will be mindful of any implications for the National Access Regime.
The Government’s final response to the report is available at
CANBERRA
20 February 2004
Contact:
David Alexander
02 6277 7340