Section 3: Outcomes
This section explains how the resources in Section 2 will be used to deliver outputs and administered items that contribute to the outcome for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
3.1 Summary of outcomes and contribution to outcomes
The relationship between activities of the ACCC and its outcome is summarised in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Contributions to outcomes
3.2 Outcomes — departmental and administered
The ACCC has one outcome, namely, ‘to enhance social and economic welfare of the Australian community by fostering competitive, efficient, fair and informed Australian markets’. The total appropriation for this outcome, including capital appropriation, for 2006-07 is $108.9 million.
Figure 5: Departmental appropriations by outcome, 2006-07
As the ACCC has one outcome with a total departmental appropriation of $105.0 million, this figure is not applicable to the ACCC.
Figure 6: Administered appropriations by outcome, 2006-07
The ACCC does not have any administered appropriations.
3.3 Outcomes and performance
Outcome 1 description
To enhance social and economic welfare of the Australian community by fostering competitive, efficient, fair and informed Australian markets.
Outcome 1 resourcing
Table 3.1 shows how the 2006-07 Budget appropriations translate to total resourcing for Outcome 1, including departmental appropriations and revenue from other sources.
Table 3.1: Total resources for Outcome 1
Measures affecting Outcome 1
A list of measures for the ACCC appears in Table 2.2. Details of these measures are included in Budget Paper No. 2, Budget Measures 2006-07.
Contributions to achievement of Outcome 1
The ACCC has one outcome, namely, ‘to enhance social and economic welfare of the Australian community by fostering competitive, efficient, fair and informed Australian markets’. Figure 4 lists the outcome statement and output groups for the ACCC.
The ACCC has not made any changes to its outcome or output since the Portfolio Budget Statements 2005-06.
The ACCC anticipates achieving this outcome through:
- publicising litigation and education activities;
- liaising with and informing business and consumers about the law;
- issuing publications and media releases, speak to the public, conducting public meetings and conferences, and using the latest technology to reach business and consumers throughout Australia;
- working with other competition, fair trading and consumer protection agencies in Australia and overseas;
- developing industry specific codes of conduct;
- assisting parliamentary inquiries and other government agencies to develop policies and processes that are consistent with competition, fair trading and consumer protection laws;
- liaising with other regulators, business and consumer associations; and
- helping overseas trading partners to develop and implement effective competition regimes to benefit Australian industries.
Administered activities
The ACCC’s main activity of an administered nature is the collection of revenues for fines and costs on behalf of the Government and transferred to the Official Public Account.
Departmental outputs
The ACCC’s outputs of compliance with laws and competitive market structures reflect the Australian Government’s decision to foster competitive, efficient, fair and informed Australian markets.
The outputs reflect the activity that the ACCC undertakes to fulfil its role and functions. The Australian Government seeks to enhance the social and economic welfare of Australians which the ACCC seeks to contribute by:
- promoting effective competition and informed markets;
- encouraging fair trading and protecting consumers; and
- regulating the infrastructure services market and other markets where competition is restricted.
The ACCC commits to meet these goals through effective and timely outcomes in the public interest, and communicating its actions and results to the community at large.
Performance information for Outcome 1
Performance information for administered items, individual outputs and output groups relating to the ACCC are summarised in Table 3.2.
Table 3.2: Performance information for Outcome 1
Table 3.2: Performance information for Outcome 1 (continued)
Evaluations for Outcome 1
There are no evaluations planned for Outcome 1 in 2006-07.
Output performance indicators (shown in Table 3.2) will be used to measure evaluation activity for this outcome. The results of the evaluation will be shown in the ACCC Annual Report.