Productivity Commission

Section 1: Overview, appropriations and budget measures summary

Agency overview

The Productivity Commission (the Commission) is the Commonwealth Government's principal review and advisory body on microeconomic policy and regulation. The Commission's work covers all sectors of the economy. It extends to the public and private sectors and focuses on areas of Commonwealth as well as State and Territory responsibility.

As a review and advisory body the Commission does not have responsibility for implementing government programmes. It carries out research, inquiry, advising and incidental functions prescribed under the Productivity Commission Act 1998.

The Commission contributes to well-informed policy decision-making and public understanding on matters relating to Australia's productivity and living standards, based on independent and transparent analysis from a community-wide perspective. It does this by undertaking:

• government commissioned projects;

• performance reporting and other services to government bodies;

• regulation review activities;

• competitive neutrality complaints activities; and

• supporting research and activities and statutory annual reporting.

Appropriations and resourcing

The total appropriation for the Commission in the 2003-04 Budget is $24.2 million. Table 1.1 on the following page provides this detail.

Table 1.2 details funding provided for new budget measures in 2003-04.

Productivity Commission - 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.

Measures - Productivity Commission summary

Table 1.2: Summary of measures disclosed in the 2003-04 Budget

Agency revenues

Table 1.3: Agency revenues

Revenues from goods and services include rent from the sub-lease of accommodation, sales of publications, sales of surplus equipment and external use of the Commission's library (of which some $10,000 is due to cost recovery arrangements). Interest will not be received from 2003-04 due to the cessation of the Agency Banking Incentive Scheme.

Equity injections and loans

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

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