The Treasurer, Mr Peter Costello, today announced the re-appointment of Professor Allan Fels as full-time Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) until 30 June 2004. At the same time he also announced the re-appointment of Dr Tom Parry until 6 June 2005 and the appointment of Mr Alan Tregilgas until 31 March 2004 as associate members of the ACCC. The appointments have been made with the support of all States and Territories.
Professor Fels has been Chairman of the ACCC since November 1995 and was Chairman of the former Trade Practices Commission from July 1991 until November 1995. He was also Chairman of the Prices Surveillance Authority from March 1989 until October 1992. Professor Fels was the Director of the graduate School of Management, Monash University from 1985 until 1990 and is now an Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University.
Since the ACCC was formed nearly five years ago, it has played a significant regulatory role in progressing microeconomic reform in a number of important sectors including electricity and telecommunications. The past year has been particularly challenging. In particular, the ACCC had the extra responsibility to protect consumers against price exploitation in relation to the New Tax System. The ACCC also had to maintain all of its normal regulatory and enforcement functions under the Trade Practices Act 1974, Prices Surveillance Act 1983 and related legislation.
Dr Parrys re-appointment to the ACCC follows his re-appointment as the Chair of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales. Dr Parry has served as Chair of that Tribunal since it was created (originally as the Government Pricing Tribunal of NSW) in 1992 and he was appointed as an associate member of the ACCC when it was created in November 1995. He is a former dean of the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Wollongong, was previously Associate Professor in the School of Economics at the University of New South Wales and is a current member of the NSW Council on the Cost and Quality of Government.
Mr Tregilgass appointment was made on the nomination of the Northern Territory and follows his appointment as the Territorys inaugural part-time Utilities Commissioner. Mr Tregilgas has extensive experience in public policy and economic analysis.