The Morrison Government has nominated Ms Gina Cass‑Gottlieb to be the next Chairperson of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The ACCC plays a vital role in promoting competition, fair trading and regulating national infrastructure for the benefit of all Australians.
Ms Cass‑Gottlieb is one of Australia’s preeminent competition lawyers, having been a senior partner in competition and regulation at Gilbert + Tobin for over 25 years. During her distinguished career in legal practice, she has advised on some of the largest and most complex competition matters in Australia and New Zealand.
Ms Cass‑Gottlieb was appointed a Member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Payment Systems Board in 2013 and a Member of the Financial Regulator Assessment Authority in September this year. Ms Cass‑Gottlieb would be the first female ACCC Chairperson.
I have written to states and territories seeking their support for the proposed appointment of Ms Cass‑Gottlieb ahead of recommending to the Governor‑General that Ms Cass‑Gottlieb be appointed as ACCC Chairperson for five years, commencing on 21 March 2022.
I also thank Mr Rod Sims for his dedication and leadership over more than 10 years as Chairman of the ACCC. Mr Sims has made an outstanding contribution to competition, consumer and infrastructure policy in his time at the ACCC, helping to advance world leading reforms including most recently with respect to the digital platforms. I also acknowledge his wider contribution to public policy during his distinguished public service career which spans more than three decades. I wish him well for the future.