Australia – Deregulation Process 1998 - 2008

Synopsis

The mandated review of the Trade Practices Act concerned with the telecommunications sector, ie sections IIB and IIC, forms the stating point of this report. As these reviews were intended to be completed by 2002, they logically inform the legislative framework for the years beyond 2002. The Productivity Commission completed its review of competition in the market in 2001, and review of the Radiocommunications Act. This report notes some of the major moves in 2002, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) consultation on the public disclosure of information collected via the telecommunications record-keeping rules, and ISDN pre-selection. No major initiatives followed in the wake of T3. By mid 2007 the industry was still waiting for the government to implement its Operational Separation legislation which was passed in late 2005.