Access regulation in Australia

Access Regulation in Australia provides a much-needed guide to regulatory access issues, explaining the regimes currently in operation and the economic and legal principles which underpin them.

This is a very timely release as essential infrastructure continues to be privatised around Australia.  Access is regulated to ensure that owners of critical infrastructure cannot exercise market power in a manner that prevents competition in related markets. In the energy, transport and telecommunications sectors, access to services provided by major assets is managed by complex regulatory regimes.

Regulation promotes competition, investment and economically efficient outcomes, in contexts where natural monopolies might otherwise prevail. Overseeing all of this are the statutory regulators and the Australian Competition Tribunal.

From a national perspective, but with reference to state regulatory regimes where necessary, Access Regulation in Australia provides valuable guidance on third party access frameworks. It addresses the forms of, and approaches to, access regulation.  The access regimes are reviewed by sector, as well as the mechanisms for review of access-related decisions. Each chapter draws out the essential elements of the regime in unprecedented detail – but with ease-of-use in mind.

While other works may include reference to regulatory access issues, this new title provides a dedicated focus on the subject, authored by three specialists with a wealth of experience in competition and regulation matters.

Access Regulation in Australia will be an indispensable tool for a diverse range of practitioners engaged in access regulation issues as well as economists, and those working in the areas of public policy and finance, particularly in the energy and telecommunications sectors.

Preface

PART I                 INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1              Introduction to access regulation

Chapter 2              Preliminary economic concepts

Chapter 3              Why regulate access?

PART II                FORMS OF ACCESS REGULATION

Chapter 4              Key forms of access regulation

Chapter 5              The building block model

PART III               APPROACH TO ACCESS REGULATION IN AUSTRALIA

Chapter 6              Role of regulators

Chapter 7              The National Access Regime

PART IV               ACCESS REGIMES IN AUSTRALIA BY SECTOR

Chapter 8              Electricity

Chapter 9              Gas

Chapter 10            Telecommunications

Chapter 11            Port and rail

PART V                REVIEW MECHANISMS

Chapter 12            Review mechanisms