I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Gary Potts and Dr Steven Kates as Commissioners to the Productivity Commission, and the reappointment of Professor Judith Sloan and Mr Michael Woods as Commissioners to the Productivity Commission.
Mr Michael Woods is currently a part-time Commissioner with the Commission. He has been appointed a full-time Commissioner for a period of five years. Mr Woods is responsible for the Commission’s competitive neutrality work and is currently conducting both an inquiry into bulk and containerised shipping between the mainland and Tasmania, and a study in relation to science and innovation. Mr Woods is a former Secretary to the ACT Treasury.
Mr Gary Potts has been appointed a part-time Commissioner for a period of three years. Mr Potts is a former part-time Associate Commissioner with the Productivity Commission. He worked on the Commission’s 2005 Review of Part X of the Trade Practices Act 1974. He is a former Deputy Secretary of the Australian Treasury. Since his retirement from that post, Mr Potts has also worked as a private economic consultant and is a director of AGEST Pty Ltd.
Professor Judith Sloan, currently a part-time Commissioner, has been reappointed for four years. Professor Sloan is currently conducting a study on the Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth. This study is due for completion on 25 April 2006. A former Deputy Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Professor Sloan is also an experienced company director.
Dr Steven Kates is currently a Senior Lecturer at the RMIT University and an economic consultant. He has written a number of books, articles and papers on economics and economic issues. He has been appointed a part-time Commissioner for three years.
These appointments will boost the Productivity Commission and allow it to continue its vital role as the Government’s principal advisory body on micro-economic reform and regulation.
The appointees bring to the Productivity Commission private and public sector experience working on economic and business issues.