Commonwealth, state and territory treasurers have today signed a landmark agreement that will deliver a 10‑year reform of National Competition Policy (NCP).
We are working together to put downward pressure on prices, boost competition, improve the quality and safety of products and services, and making it fairer to do business.
We can achieve more working together than we can alone. The NCP reforms of the 1990s brought a period of sustained economic growth, and this new ambitious decade‑long program will deliver significant benefits for consumers and businesses across Australia.
The initial reform program includes both Commonwealth and state‑led reforms that will deliver enduring benefits for Australians, underpinned by the Albanese Labor Government’s $900 million investment in the new National Productivity Fund.
The Commonwealth, states and territories have agreed to refreshed National Competition Policy principles that will shape an ongoing 10‑year reform program.
Productivity Commission modelling shows NCP could deliver an ongoing boost to GDP of up to $45 billion, which is around $5,000 more for every Australian household, every year, as well drive down prices.
We know Australians are under pressure. The first tranche of NCP reforms focuses on easing the cost of living and regulatory burdens to benefit Australian consumers, workers and businesses.
Levelling the regulatory playing field for modern methods of construction and simplifying the certification process will significantly reduce build time and costs to get more Australians in a home quicker and make housing cheaper to build and buy.
We’ll also fast‑track the adoption of international product safety standards, giving consumers and business confidence that products are safe, high‑quality and affordable.
This work is an important first step towards delivering broader ‘right to repair’ reforms – driving down repair costs, increasing business opportunities and reducing wastage by removing barriers to competition for repairs, especially in agriculture and farming.
As part of our work to make the supermarket sector fairer for families and farmers, we’ll work with the states and territories to improve commercial zoning and planning and create new opportunities for business entry and growth.
Today’s announcements are just the beginning of our decade‑long competition reforms, which are informed by expert evidence and consultation with the community.
Every state and territory has today joined the Albanese Government to implement the expanded National Competition Principles which will support and empower consumers and fix the barriers businesses face to moving goods, providing services and finding labour.