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The map below shows the relationship between Government outcomes and the contributing outputs for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Financial detail for Outcome 1 by output appears in Table 2.1 while non-financial information for Outcome 1 appears in Table 2.2.
Chart 6: Outcomes and outputs groups
To enhance social and economic welfare of the Australian community by fostering competitive, efficient, fair and informed Australian markets
The ACCC's role is to administer the Trade Practices Act 1974 and the Prices Surveillance Act 1983 and performs functions under other Commonwealth legislation and State and Territory Competition Policy Reform Acts.
The ACCC seeks to maintain and improve competition and efficiency in markets, foster adherence to fair trading practices in well informed markets, promote competitive pricing wherever possible and restrain price rises in markets where competition is less than effective. It is especially concerned to foster a fair and competitive operating environment for small business.
In 2001-02 additional resources have been provided to the ACCC for a pricing review of the ACCC.
The Government will provide the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with additional funding to maintain service delivery standards and to improve service delivery in priority areas such as e-commerce and rural and regional issues.
Table 2.1 shows how the 2001-02 appropriations translate to total resourcing for Outcome 1.
Table 2.1: Total resources for Outcome 1
(1) C1 and E1 - see Table 1.1.
Outcome 1 - Contribution of outputs
Table 2.2: Performance information for Outcome 1
Indicators |
Measures | |
Secure compliance by business with the Trade Practices Act (TPA). |
Investigating complaints, developing and implementing compliance programmes, evaluating and reviewing applications for authorisations, access undertakings, monitoring them and arbitrating disputes. A small business focus which informs and educates small business about its rights and obligations under the TPA with a view to assisting in enforcing the TPA in relation to small business issues. A focus in the non-traded goods and services sector to encourage competition in markets and consumer protection. |
Meeting of prescribed time limits and standards, decisions based on relevant facts, effective public relations programme including media releases, publications, and liaison meetings. |
Secure improvement in market conduct. |
Assisting with the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks which maximise the potential for promotion of competition and efficient outcomes including through access to essential facilities, liaising widely with key stakeholders, and reviewing price notifications from declared companies and monitoring prices as required under the Prices Surveillance Act. |
Timely decisions resulting in improved access and service delivery and development of pro-competitive regulatory frameworks. Publication of price notifications within statutory timeframes. |
Community informed about the TPA and the Prices Surveillance Act and their implications for business and consumers. |
Information programmes, publications and publicity are used to promote general awareness of the Acts and the ACCC's priorities and procedures. By these means also the deterrent and educational potential of the ACCC's enforcement work is reinforced. |
Level of community awareness and responsibility to be monitored; number of complaints, inquiries, attendance at seminars; and by community surveys. |
Table 2.2: Performance information for Outcome 1 (continued) | ||
Performance information for administered items (including third party outputs) | ||
Output Group 1.1 - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | ||
Indicators |
Measures | |
Output 1.1.1 - The proper administration and enforcement of the Trade Practices Act 1974, the Prices Surveillance Act 1983 and related laws |
Collection of Statutory fees and judgement debts. |
Timely banking and recording of Statutory fees and judgement debts. |
Performance information for agency outputs | ||
Output Group 1.1 - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | ||
Indicators |
Measures | |
Output 1.1.1 - The proper administration and enforcement of the Trade Practices Act 1974, the Prices Surveillance Act 1983 and related laws |
Increasing resolution speed of arbitrations in telecommunications. |
Increase the speed of finalising telecommunications arbitrations from 8 per year to 10 per year. |
Reducing the number of outstanding regulatory decisions in telecommunications. |
Reduce the number of outstanding access disputes from 15 to 5 over 2-year period. | |
Increasing number of telecommunications investigations. |
Increase the number of telecommunications investigations from 10 to 15. | |
Reducing the number of outstanding regulatory decisions in gas. |
Improved timeliness in delivery of decisions under National Gas Code - reduction in outstanding applications from 11 to 4 over 18 months. | |
Development and finalisation of regulatory guidelines in gas. |
Development of guidelines for exercise of regulatory responsibilities by end 2002. | |
Increasing resolution speed of arbitrations in gas. |
Improved monitoring work - increase in speed of resolution of arbitrations under the National Gas Code from 3 to 6 over 18 month period. | |
Extending Commission small business communications programs to remote business and community organisations. |
Expansion of satellite broadcast project to reach 150 remote communities by 2002-03. | |
Development of tailored compliance information tool kits for distribution to small business. |
Development of compliance tools and information for small business for distribution by June 2002. Production of information leaflets tailored to 4 key problem areas of small business by June 2002. | |
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Table 2.2: Performance information for Outcome 1 (continued) | ||
Performance information for agency outputs (continued) | ||
Indicators |
Measures | |
Development and finalisation of regulatory guidelines in electricity. |
Finalisation of regulatory principles guidelines for transmission networks by June 2002. | |
Reducing the number of outstanding regulatory decisions in electricity. |
Finalisation of network ring fencing and accounting separation rules by December 2001. | |
Reducing the time taken to authorise national electricity market code changes. |
Changes to national electricity code to incorporate move towards nodal pricing on transmission network by December 2001. Reduction in outstanding authorisations from 60 to 20 by March 2002. | |
Extending Commission communications programmes to remote business and community organisations in rural and regional Australia. |
Development of 400 partnerships with local agencies/Rural Transaction Centres by June 2002. Establishment of Rural and Regional Advisory Committee by December 2001 to advise ACCC of competition and consumer issues and to assist ACCC in promoting its activities in remote locations. Meet quarterly. Implementation of a regional visits programme. Advertising of ACCC services in regional and rural press 4 times a year. | |
Reduction in number of irrelevant complaints. |
Decrease percentage of irrelevant complaints from 53 per cent to 40 per cent by June 2003. | |
Development of domestic and international information exchange networks on e-commerce. |
Establishment, by December 2001 of networks with international and domestic agencies to gain expertise in information/internet based conduct. Development of internet specific strategy by March 2002 to improve the handling of potential competition and consumer protection issues by government agencies and encourage exchange of information on relevant e-commerce activities by December 2001. | |
Table 2.2: Performance information for Outcome 1 (continued) | ||
Performance information for agency outputs (continued) | ||
Indicators |
Measures | |
Establishment of an e-commerce investigatory capability. |
Development of appropriate computer forensic capacity and relevant skills by December 2001. Development of strategies to manage Commission's capacity to respond quickly to emerging issues by December 2001. | |
Extending production of compliance information for the health and other professions sector. |
Provision of cost effective information on ACCC in relevant sectors through a new publication by March 2002. | |
Undertake compliance/adjudication actions in the health and other professions sector. |
Commencement of 2 additional compliance/adjudication actions by March 2002. | |
Output 1.1.2 - Performance of actions that promote competition and fair trading and enable well functioning markets |
The number of stakeholder visits. |
Increase in number of stakeholder contacts from 10 to 50. |
Increasing the level of awareness of ACCC and its role. |
Increased awareness of the Trade Practices Act in the small business and other emerging markets sectors as measured by provision of an additional 5000 copies of compliance publications. ACCC Consultative Committee to meet twice yearly. | |
Development of tailored compliance information tool kits for distribution to organisations in rural and regional Australia. |
Extension of publications program- provision of 2 new publications to remote communities by March 2002. | |
Stakeholder views will be sought on the effectiveness of the ACCC's actions.
Some aspects of corporate services are already outsourced. Other aspects of corporate services, such as the library, and aspects of finance and personnel services will be market tested.