Cost recovery by Commonwealth agencies
Public inquiry
This inquiry has concluded. The inquiry report was released by the Commonwealth Government on 14 March 2002.
The inquiry incorporated a National Competition Policy review of fees charged under the Trade Practices Act 1974.
Among other things, the Commission was to report on:
- the nature and extent of cost recovery arrangements and factors underlying them
- who benefits from the goods and services to which the arrangements apply
- impacts on business and the agencies concerned
- the consistency of the arrangements with regulatory best practice.
The Commission was also required to report on appropriate guidelines for applying cost recovery arrangements.
In the Trade Practices Act component of the inquiry, the Commission was required to have particular regard to fees that restrict competition, whether the benefits to the Community outweigh the costs, and whether the objectives of cost recovery arrangements can only be met by restricting competition.
The inquiry did not cover charges by State, Territory or Local governments, nor general taxation revenue raising.
Questionnaires
Commonwealth Government research, administrative and information departments and agencies were asked to complete a questionnaire to provide the Commission with information regarding their cost recovery requirements and practices.
Approaches adopted by other countries
The Productivity Commission has found it useful by providing information that is important to cost recovery and the policy approaches adopted by other countries. Please note that these documents contain the views of the authors and should not be attributed to the Productivity Commission.
New Zealand Treasury
Guidelines for Setting Charges in the Public Sector
US Office of Management and Budget
Guidelines for general cost recovery in the US - Circular No. A-25 Revised, 7th July 1993
Guidelines for inter-governmental cost recovery in US - Circular No. A-97, 29th August 1969
OECD
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Cost Recovery and Charging Policy - 8th April 1997
User Charging in the Federal Government - A Background Document - 2nd May 1997
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Media release and Government's interim response
Draft report
Please note: The draft report is for research purposes only. For final outcomes of this inquiry refer to the inquiry report.
Key documents
Inquiry report
The final report of the inquiry into the cost recovery arrangements of Commonwealth Government regulatory, administrative and information agencies, including fees charged under the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA).
Submissions
Submissions for the public inquiry, Review of Cost Recovery by Commonwealth Agencies.
Public hearings
Transcripts for the public inquiry, Review of Cost Recovery by Commonwealth Agencies.
Questionnaires
Questionnaires for the public inquiry, Review of Cost Recovery by Commonwealth Agencies.
Questionaire responses
Questionnaire responses from the public inquiry, Review of Cost Recovery by Commonwealth Agencies.