National Competition Council

Section 1: Overview, appropriations and budget measures summary

Agency overview

The role of the National Competition Council (NCC) is to oversight and assist the implementation of National Competition Policy and related reforms outlined in frameworks developed and agreed by all Australian Governments. Its responsibilities also include assisting public awareness of governments' competition reform agendas, recommending on the design and coverage of infrastructure access regimes under Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974, and assessing whether the Commonwealth, States and Territories have made satisfactory progress towards their commitments to competition policy reform.

Through constructive engagement with governments the NCC works towards completing the reform programme agreed in April 1995. The NCC also helps the community to become better attuned to the scope and potential favourable outcomes of competition reform. This approach facilitates increased competition to be introduced where it will result in greater economic growth, less unemployment, better social outcomes and the better use of resources for the benefit of all Australians. This vision is embodied in the Council's mission: `To help raise the living standards of the Australian community by ensuring that conditions for competition prevail throughout the economy that promote growth, innovation and productivity.'

Appropriations and resourcing

The total appropriation for the NCC in the 2003-04 Budget is $3.8 million. Table 1.1 on the following page provides this detail.

National Competition Council - appropriations 2003-04

Table 1.1: Appropriations and other revenue

(1) C1 and E1 refer to information provided in Table 2.1, Total resources for Outcome 1. K1 refers to information provided in Table 3.1, Budgeted Agency Statement of Financial Performance.

(2) Refer to Table 3.1, Budgeted Agency Statement of Financial Performance for application of agency revenue.

(3) Revenue from other sources includes other revenues from government (for example, resources free of charge) and revenue from other sources (for example, goods and services). Non-appropriated agency revenues are detailed in Table 1.3.

Note: Percentage figures indicate the percentage contribution of revenues from government (agency appropriations) to the total price of outputs, by outcome.

Agency revenues

Table 1.3: Agency revenues

The Council receives approximately $32,000 from applications for revocation and coverage of pipelines under the National Gas Code. Cost recovery arrangements account for less than 1 per cent of the Council's Budget.

Equity injections and loans

The NCC does not have an appropriation for an equity injection or loan in the 2003‑04 Budget.

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