The Productivity Commission is the Australian Government's principal review and advisory body on microeconomic policy, regulation and a range of other social and environmental issues.
The Commission was created as an independent authority by the Productivity Commission Act 1998, an Act of the Australian Parliament. Its reports often form the basis of government policy. However, it does not administer government programs or exercise executive power and governments are not required to act on its recommendations. In practice, however, many recommendations are accepted.
History Timeline The Productivity Commission's lineage extends back to the Tariff Board, which was established in the 1920s. On 1 January 1974, the Tariff Board became the Industries Assistance Commission; in 1989 it became the Industry Commission.
The Commission was created as an independent authority in April 1998 by the Productivity Commission Act 1998, replacing the Industry Commission, the Bureau of Industry Economics, and the Economic Planning Advisory Commission. These three bodies were amalgamated on an administrative basis in 1996.
The Commission's remit may extend beyond Australia, such as when it worked jointly with the former New Zealand Productivity Commission on a study into Trans-Tasman Economic Relations in 2012 and on a 2019 report on Growing the Digital Economy in Australia and New Zealand.
A documentary titled Opening Australia to the world: celebrating 50 editions of the Trade and Assistance Review was produced in 2024.Opening Australia to the World: Celebrating 50 editions of the Trade and Assistance Review.
Predecessor agencies
Functions The Productivity Commission operates within the federal government's Treasury portfolio. Its core function involves responding to references from the Treasurer, which can request a commissioned study or a public inquiry. Referrals to the Commission stipulate the length and terms of the project. They may cover any sector of the Australian economy, address a particular industry or cut across industry boundaries, and encompass wider social or environmental issues.
The Commission can initiate its own research. Its reports often form the basis of government policy. However, it does not administer government programs or exercise executive power and governments are not required to act on its recommendations. In practice, however, many recommendations are accepted.
Most projects are specified for a duration of nine or twelve months, although some may be six or fifteen months long. Commission studies and inquiries accept submissions from members of the public, although inquiries are additionally required, under the Act, to undertake formal public consultations. All reports are publicly released.
In addition, the Commission acts as the secretariat to the intergovernmental Review of Government Service Provision, and produces annually the Report on Government Services, in addition to regular reports that contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of government services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Commission operates as the Australian Government's competitive neutrality complaints mechanism.
Operation The Commission is headed by a Chair and between 4 and 12 other commissioners, who are appointed for a five-year term on the advice of the Treasurer. Some commissioners are required to have particular skills and experience:
in applying the principles of ecologically sustainable development and environmental conservation
in dealing with the social effects of economic adjustment and social welfare service delivery
acquired in working in Australian industry
dealing with policies and programs that have an impact on Indigenous persons and dealing with one or more communities of Indigenous persons.
Associate commissioners can be appointed by the Treasurer on a full or part-time basis. Staff are Commonwealth public servants. The average number of employees in the 2021–22 financial year was 179.
The Commission reports formally through the Treasurer to the Australian Parliament, where its inquiry reports are tabled. Final inquiry reports must be tabled in Parliament within 25 sitting days of the government receiving the report.
What makes the Commission unusual among public sector institutions around the world is the combination of three core principles which it embodies:
Independence — The commission operates under the protection and guidelines of its own legislation. It has an arm's length relationship with the Australian Government. While the government largely determines its work program, it cannot tell the Commission what to say and the Commission's findings and recommendations are based solely on its own analyses and judgments. Transparency — The commission's advice to government, and the information and analysis on which it is based, are open to public scrutiny. Its processes provide for extensive public input and feedback through hearings, workshops and other consultative forums, and through the release of draft reports and preliminary findings. A community-wide focus — The Commission is obliged under its statutory guidelines to take a broad view, encompassing the interests of the economy and community as a whole, rather than only particular industries or groups. Environmental, regional and social dimensions of its work are also considered, informed by public consultation and the Commission's own research capability.
Appointments
Chairs
Name DatesGary Banks AO 17 April 1998 – 31 December 2012Peter Harris AO 11 March 2013 – 10 September 2018Michael Brennan 11 September 2018 – 10 September 2023Danielle Wood13 November 2023 – 12 November 2028
Deputy Chairs +NameDatesRichard Snape24 February 1999 – 4 October 2002Mike Woods8 October 2008 – 22 December 2014Patricia Scott24 February 2015 – 8 April 2016Karen Chester 9 April 2016 – 27 January 2019Alex Robson28 March 2022 – 27 March 2027
Commissioners +NameDatesJohn Cosgrove17 April 1998 – 7 May 2002Helen Owens17 April 1998 – 14 April 2006Richard Snape17 April 1998 – 4 October 2002Judith Sloan17 April 1998 – 16 April 2010Mike Woods17 April 1998 – 22 December 2014Neil Byron15 July 1998 – 16 April 2010David Robertson13 December 2000 – 12 December 2003Tony Hinton27 March 2002 – 26 March 2007Robert Fitzgerald27 January 2004 – 26 April 2019Philip Weickhardt1 January 2004 – 11 December 2014Gary Potts17 April 2006 – 30 April 2008Steven Kates17 April 2006 – 16 April 2009Angela MacRae19 March 2007 – 9 December 2020Matthew Butlin1 May 2008 – 30 September 2008Louise Sylvan1 August 2008 – 20 September 2011Wendy Craik4 June 2009 – 31 December 2014David Kalisch4 June 2009 – 10 December 2010Siobhan McKenna4 June 2009 – 3 June 2014Patricia Scott7 September 2009 – 8 April 2016Alison McClelland8 December 2010 – 31 March 2016Warren Mundy8 December 2010 – 7 December 2015Jonathan Coppel28 July 2011 – 27 July 2021Karen Chester12 December 2013 – 27 January 2019Melinda Cilento27 November 2014 – 25 August 2017Paul Lindwall1 July 2014 – 31 December 2022Ken Baxter30 April 2015 – 31 December 2020Julie Abramson10 December 2015 – 9 December 2025Stephen King1 July 2016 – 31 December 2026Richard Spencer27 October 2016 – 28 January 2022Jane Doolan8 December 2016 – 7 March 2022Romlie Mokak25 March 2019 – 24 March 2024Malcolm Roberts1 May 2019 – 10 November 2023Elizabeth Gropp1 May 2019 – 31 July 2024Catherine de Fontenay1 July 2019 – 30 June 2029Martin Stokie1 April 2022 – 31 March 2027Joanne Chong1 April 2022 – 31 March 2027Natalie Siegel-Brown18 April 2022 – 13 January 2025Barry Sterland25 June 2024 – 24 June 2029Alison Roberts25 June 2024 – 24 June 2029Selwyn Button25 June 2024 – 24 June 2029Angela Jackson28 April 2025 – 27 April 2030
See also
List of Australian Government entities
References
External links