The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has commenced a market study to examine a range of interrelated matters that have been raised by the industry that may affect the development of competition and efficiency in communications markets over the next five years or thereabouts. Rapidly evolving technological developments, structural change within the sector, product...

Comments on Draft Report: “How to Assess the Competitiveness and Efficiency of the Superannuation System” The Centre for International Finance and Regulation (CIFR) welcomes the opportunity to provide further input to the Productivity Commission (PC) during Stage 1 of its investigation into the efficiency and competitiveness of the Australian superannuation industry. The comments in our...

The Australian superannuation system has grown rapidly since the introduction of the Superannuation Guarantee in 1992, both in terms of funds under management and coverage. Almost all employed Australians contribute to superannuation. Collectively, Australians currently have around $2 trillion of assets in superannuation funds, comprising about 20 per cent of total household assets. Superannuation will...

One of Australia's most prominent privatisation advocates has been the head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Rod Sims. In the Financial Review recently, he says he's 'almost at the point of opposing privatisation.' Sims told a conference in Melbourne, hosted in part by the paper, that he now believes the 'people off the...

On 4 July 2016, the ACCC issued a discussion paper for the wholesale ADSL service declaration inquiry seeking industry views on whether the wholesale ADSL service should continue to be declared. A number of changes have occurred since the wholesale ADSL service was first declared in 2012, including the progressive rollout of the National Broadband...