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Microeconomic Reform

The Microeconomic Reform Division offers independent and objective advice to Government in order to achieve greater productivity and output growth in Western Australia, for the purpose of increasing the standard of living of all Western Australians.  Consistent the DTF’s Strategic and Corporate Plan, the Microeconomic Reform Team provides the government with advice on measures to promote the public interest by attaining long term efficient and sustainable competition in the State’s economy.

The Team focuses on:

  • promoting third party access to monopoly infrastructure, including railway, port, water, gas, and other infrastructure of significance to the economy of Western Australia
  • advocating the creation of markets, where this would place downward pressure on prices, and increase allocative, dynamic and productive efficiency of market participants
  • addressing issues of market failure within the Western Australian economy.

The Team will achieve this by:

  • providing advice to the Treasurer and senior officers of the DTF
  • increasing community awareness of microeconomic reform issues through submissions to public enquiries and input to Government processes.

Currently the Team has a specific focus on:

  • rail network access, with a focus on the Pilbara iron ore railways
  • analysis of the Western Australian water sector, including issues associated with enhancing competition in the supply, distribution and retail markets
  • promoting third party access to proposed economic infrastructure which has the potential to demonstrate monopoly characteristics.