The Governor-General this morning appointed Dr Wendy Craik as President, and Mr David Crawford, Dr Douglas McTaggart, Ms Virginia Hickey and Mr Rodney Sims as Councillors, of the National Competition Council on a part-time basis for a period of three years.
All appointments to the Council have received majority support of the States and Territories. The appointees have extensive experience in industry, law, economics and public administration.
Dr Craik, Mr Crawford and Dr McTaggart have been reappointed to the Council.
Ms Hickey has a strong commercial law background. She is currently Principal of Luma Corporate Governance Consulting, Director of the Medical Defence Association of South Australia/Medical Insurance Australia Pty Ltd, Commissioner of the National Road Transport Commission and Councillor of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (SA & NT Division). Ms Hickey was formerly a partner of Finlaysons Lawyers in Adelaide.
Mr Sims has extensive experience in the areas of commerce, economics and public administration. He is currently a business consultant and director of Port Jackson Partners Ltd. He previously served as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Transport and Communications.
I would like to thank Mr Robert Fitzgerald for his past contribution to the Council’s work. Mr Fitzgerald has been appointed to the Productivity Commission with effect from 27 January 2004.
The National Competition Council was established in November 1995. Its functions include advising on access to significant infrastructure services under the Trade Practices Act 1974, and on whether State and Territory government businesses should be subject to prices surveillance.
The Council also has a variety of roles under the three National Competition Policy Agreements signed by all Australian Governments in April 1995. This includes assessing whether States and Territories have met the conditions necessary to receive competition payments from the Australian Government.