Australian Treasurers advance slew of competition, productivity reforms

The news: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his state and territory counterparts agreed to add new reforms to the National Competition Policy plan and advance priorities from the Economic Reform Roundtable at a meeting on Friday.

The context: An updated National Competition Policy Federation Funding Agreement Schedule was finalised to include additional reforms. States that implement the reforms under the agreement will receive payments from the $900 million National Productivity Fund.

The reforms added to the schedule are:

• A Single National Market for workers: occupational licensing reforms, partnering with employers and unions, to make it easier for skilled labour to work in different states, prioritising electrical and engineering occupations
• A Single National Market for goods; harmonising standards for household electrical consumer goods, waste and recycled products, building and construction, and a Commonwealth-only reform on food standards
• Heavy vehicle reforms to boost productivity and increase the uptake of electric heavy vehicles
• Allowing health practitioners to work at their full scope of practice to improve productivity and reduce costs in the health sector.

The Commonwealth has also agreed to extend its ‘right to repair’ reforms to agricultural machinery, legislate its ban on non-compete clauses and continue work on a national screening process for workers in the care and support sectors.