Unlocking The Infrastructure: The Reform Of Public Utilities In Australia

The Australian economy is undergoing its most comprehensive challenge since Federation in 1901. An intensive package of microeconomic reform, driven by the Hilmer Report and culminating with the National Competition Reform Act 1995, is to drag the economy into the age of international competitive advantage. The heart of these reforms is to increase and make more effective the access of industry to the nation's essential and hitherto public infrastructure facilities. Unlocking the Infrastructure takes a close and essential look at the assumptions, anticipated benefits and intended practice of these changes. Coverage extends to all infrastructure sectors, with case study examination of telecommunications, post and gas. The policy issues addressed include the public utility problem, access, pricing, natural monopolies, investment incentives and service integration. Unlocking the Infrastructure is essential reading for the management of, and policy makers for, Australia's infrastructure industries, those companies reliant on that infrastructure, and students and academics in microeconomic policy and reform.