The Productivity Commission announced that it has been asked by the Commonwealth Government to conduct an inquiry into appropriate arrangements for managing the radiofrequency spectrum.

The purpose of the inquiry is to identify restrictions on competition arising from spectrum management rules and processes. The inquiry will review the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and related legislation, and the market-based reforms and activities undertaken by the Australian Communications Authority.

The inquiry is of interest to the NSW Government because of the impact of the availability of radiofrequency spectrum for a range of commercial and non-commercial activities, including emergency and essential service applications.

It is important that the NSW Government prepares a coordinated response to the Productivity Commission. As a result, the Department of Information Technology and Management (DITM), as the agency responsible for the management of radiofrequency spectrum within NSW, has been asked to coordinate the formation of a working party to prepare the submission. The working party is expected to consist of a representative drawn from each of the following agencies/areas:

• Department of Information Technology and Management;
• The Cabinet Office;
• Treasury;
• the emergency service sector; and
• the commercial Government sector (utilities, transport etc).

The Productivity Commission's timeframe is very tight with an issues paper expected to be released at the end of August and initial submissions due towards the end of September.

Accordingly, agencies wishing to nominate a representative to the working party are asked to provide contact details via email [email protected] by 12 September 2001.

Agencies wishing to make a submission, but not be represented on the working party, should also provide the name of the person responsible for preparing their agency's submission by 12 September 2001. These submissions will need to be forwarded to DITM by the end of September to allow a consolidated report to be prepared in the requisite timeframe.

A copy of the advertisement and a link to the site containing the full terms of reference are available from the OIT Website http://www.oit.nsw.gov.au

Please contact Tony Gates at DITM for further information in relation to the Inquiry on 9236 7741 or [email protected]

C. Gellatly
Director-General