Creating a Prosperous and Fair Australia

For a detailed discussion of the review see Field Chris , Current Issues in Consumer Law and Policy (2006).

Sharam Andrea , 'The future of consumer advocacy in Victoria: A reply to ‘Consumer Advocacy in Victoria’ (2006) 13(4) Alt LJ 221. The Report is available at <http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256902000FE154/Lookup/CAV-Publications_Reports_and_Guidelines/$file/consumer_advocacy.pdf> at 10 February 2007. I note that this article has been prepared by the author alone and, as such, does not necessarily reflect views held by Consumer Affairs Victoria on the issues discussed.

Sharam , above n 2,221–2.

Consumer Affairs Victoria, above n 2, v.

Smith Simon (Ed), In the Consumer Interest: A selected history of consumer affairs in Australia 1945–2000 (2000).

Undertaken on 19 January Australia, searching Google Australia.

Sharam , above n 2, 222. Here Sharam notes that she is referring to terminology utilised by Ernst John , in particular, Ernst John , Whose Utility? The Social Impact of Public Utility Privatization and Regulation in Britain, (1994).

Sharam , above n 2, 222.

Giddens Anthony , The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy (1998).

Sharam , above n 2, 221.

Consumer Affairs Victoria, above n 2, (eg) 1, 9, 10, 30, 31, 40 and 41.

Sharam , above n 2, 225.

Consumer Affairs Victoria, above n 2, footnote 37 and accompanying text.

Ibid footnote 32 and accompanying text.

Ibid, v.

Sharam above n 2, 225.

Ernst John Webber Michael , ‘Ideology and Interests — Privatisation in Theory and Practice’ in Webber Michael with Crooks Mary (eds), Putting the People Last — Government, Services and Rights in Victoria (1996) 120.

See, eg, Waud Roger Hocking Anthony , Microeconomics (1986), 201–239.

Vickers John , Economics for Consumer Policy, British Academy Keynes Lecture, 29 October 2003, 4 available at <http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Speeches+and+articles/2003/spe04-03.htm> at 10 February 2007.

Burge Glenn , ‘Pharmacists’ Deal a Protectionist Farce', Financial Review, 22 November 2005, 70.

See <http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=104436&catld=100231&tid=100008&p=1> at 10 February 2007.

Ibid.

Productivity Commission, Review of National Competition Policy Reforms (February 2005) at 386. This report is available at <http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/ncp/finalreport/ncp.pdf> at 10 February 2007.

Ibid, XVI.

Ibid, XVIII.

Ibid, XIX.

Prior to there being virtually any empirical evidence to test the results of the restructuring in a considered way.

Webber Michael , ‘Introduction’ in Webber Michael with Crooks Mary (eds), Putting the People Last – Government, Services and Rights in Victoria, (1996) VI.

On average prices, see Productivity Commission, above n 23, XIX, on service standards, see the reports of service standards by the Victorian Essential Services Commission at <http://www.esc.vic.gov.au/public/Energy/Regulation+and+Compliance/Performance+Reports/> and on innovation in products see Hughes Duncan , ‘Vic shines in electricity market’, Financial Review, 4 January 2007, 7.

Hughes , above n 29, 7. The quote is that of the Victorian Essential Services Commission.

Sharam , above n 2, 225.

Trebilcock Michael ‘An Introduction to Law and Economics’ 23 MULR 157, 158.

Consumer Affairs Victoria, above n 2 at (eg) 10, 31 and 41.

Ernst Webber , above n 17, 120.

Parham Dean , ‘Productivity growth in Australia: Are we enjoying a miracle?’, Productivity Commission Staff Working Paper (2002) available at <http://www.pc.gov.au/research/swp/pgia/index.html> at 10 February 2007.

Ibid, 20.

Trebilcock above n 32, 158.

Ernst Webber , above n 17, 139.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Essential Services Commission Act 2001, s 8(1). Certain Victorian essential services are now also regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator.

Essential Services Commission Act 2001, s 8(2) (f).

Ernst Webber , above n 17, 139.

Hodge Graeme , ‘Accountability in the privatised state — The changing of the guardians’, (2004) 29(1) Alt LJ 4.

Ibid at 5 and 9.

Ernst Webber , above n 17, 120.

These changes are set out in Essential Services Commission, Energy retailers' financial hardship policies: Framework paper, (2006) at 3 available at <http://www.esc.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyers/00305964-314A-466D-91C5-8A572F229A69/0/EnergyRetailersFinancialHardshipPolicies.pdf> at 10 February 2007.

Sharam , above n 2, 225.

Ibid.

Blair Tony , Speech to Labour Party Annual Conference, 26 September 2006 available at <http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php?id=news2005&ux_news[id]=primeminister&cHash=7e84d2fbb8> at 10 February 2007.