Creating a more dynamic and resilient economy - Interim Report

 ACCAN recently submitted to the Productivity Commission on its interim report to creating a more dynamic and resilient economy. The submission offers the consumer perspective on regulatory practice that balances policy objectives and the cost to businesses within the context of the telecommunications sector. 

ACCAN recommends that the Productivity Commission's final report advise the Australian Government to: 

1. Prioritise regulatory reform that provides the greatest net benefit to Australian businesses and consumers. 

2. Ensure that there is a strong focus on establishing effective, efficient and ‘right-sized’ regulatory frameworks, which promote effective protections for consumers at least cost to businesses. 

3. Undertake a regulatory review of the telecommunications sector as a matter of priority. This should re-examine the case for the application of self-regulation in telecommunications consumer protections and respond to outstanding reviews of the sector. We also recommend the Government adopt a systematic approach to regulatory review of the sector to reduce fragmented, duplicative and inconsistent regulations. 

4. Introduce greater regulatory accountability measures through stronger and more transparent regulator performance frameworks.  

5. Review its existing Regulator Management Guidelines and introduce clear, practical guidance on developing best practice performance metrics. 

6. Establish an independent Office of Impact Analysis and a panel of independent Impact Analysis Commissioners that includes a representative with consumer expertise. 

7. Reform impact analysis to consider the consumer costs of ineffective regulation. 

8. Provide appropriate funding for consumers and their representatives to participate in policy and regulatory development.