ID :
12247
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 19:11
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https://oananews.org//node/12247
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Govt reappoints Samuel as ACCC chairman
(AAP) Graeme Samuel says his reappointment as chairman of the country's competition watchdog is a vote of confidence in the entire organisation.
The federal government announced on Friday the reappointment of Mr Samuel as chairman to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for a further three years.
It also appointed Peter Kell - the CEO of the consumer lobby group CHOICE - as deputy chairman for a period of five years.
"Mr Samuel has provided strong leadership for the ACCC, at a time when its role in promoting competition and advancing the interests of consumers is as important as it ever has been," Treasurer Wayne Swan and Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen said in a joint statement.
The appointments of Mr Samuel and Mr Kell still need the formal approval of the governor-general, but have both been endorsed by a majority of the states and territories.
"I'm very pleased that the Australian government has got enough confidence in the way that the ACCC has undertaken its responsibilities to say that they're happy to continue the position where I'm chairing the organisation," Mr Samuel told AAP.
Mr Samuel, a former president of the National Competition Council, first took over the role of ACCC chairman from Professor Alan Fels in 2003.
He said the federal government had given the ACCC more and more responsibility in recent years in terms of water, groceries, petrol, gas and electricity.
It has also had sufficient trust in the advice the ACCC has given in relation to the Trade Practices Act and the criminalisation of cartels and cartel behaviour, the dealing of small business issues in terms of abusive market power, and the examination of areas in relation to consumer protection and product safety.
"It is a great credit to the 625 staff of the organisation that governments around the country are saying that the ACCC is doing a pretty good job and we have sufficient trust in it that we are prepared to put on extreme responsibilities and extra duties," Mr Samuel said.
"That's happening all the time, that's a really pleasing result."Mr Samuel said it was his choice that he be re-appointed for just three years, taking him to 65, rather than a further five years.
"That is what I call a normal executive retirement age. It just gives me the option of thinking at that point of time what I do next for the remaining, what I call, use of my career life."Mr Swan and Mr Bowen said Mr Kell was "eminently suitable" for the role of deputy chairperson because of his extensive experience in arguing the case for consumers in his role at CHOICE and his former position as executive director of consumer protection at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The government also announced the appointment of Professor Michael Schaper as a second ACCC deputy chairman for five years.
Prof Schaper is currently the Dean of the Murdoch University Business School in Western Australia and was previously the Small Business Commissioner of the ACT.
The government thanked Louise Sylvan as ACCC's outgoing deputy chairperson and has appointed her to the Productivity Commission.
The federal government announced on Friday the reappointment of Mr Samuel as chairman to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for a further three years.
It also appointed Peter Kell - the CEO of the consumer lobby group CHOICE - as deputy chairman for a period of five years.
"Mr Samuel has provided strong leadership for the ACCC, at a time when its role in promoting competition and advancing the interests of consumers is as important as it ever has been," Treasurer Wayne Swan and Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen said in a joint statement.
The appointments of Mr Samuel and Mr Kell still need the formal approval of the governor-general, but have both been endorsed by a majority of the states and territories.
"I'm very pleased that the Australian government has got enough confidence in the way that the ACCC has undertaken its responsibilities to say that they're happy to continue the position where I'm chairing the organisation," Mr Samuel told AAP.
Mr Samuel, a former president of the National Competition Council, first took over the role of ACCC chairman from Professor Alan Fels in 2003.
He said the federal government had given the ACCC more and more responsibility in recent years in terms of water, groceries, petrol, gas and electricity.
It has also had sufficient trust in the advice the ACCC has given in relation to the Trade Practices Act and the criminalisation of cartels and cartel behaviour, the dealing of small business issues in terms of abusive market power, and the examination of areas in relation to consumer protection and product safety.
"It is a great credit to the 625 staff of the organisation that governments around the country are saying that the ACCC is doing a pretty good job and we have sufficient trust in it that we are prepared to put on extreme responsibilities and extra duties," Mr Samuel said.
"That's happening all the time, that's a really pleasing result."Mr Samuel said it was his choice that he be re-appointed for just three years, taking him to 65, rather than a further five years.
"That is what I call a normal executive retirement age. It just gives me the option of thinking at that point of time what I do next for the remaining, what I call, use of my career life."Mr Swan and Mr Bowen said Mr Kell was "eminently suitable" for the role of deputy chairperson because of his extensive experience in arguing the case for consumers in his role at CHOICE and his former position as executive director of consumer protection at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The government also announced the appointment of Professor Michael Schaper as a second ACCC deputy chairman for five years.
Prof Schaper is currently the Dean of the Murdoch University Business School in Western Australia and was previously the Small Business Commissioner of the ACT.
The government thanked Louise Sylvan as ACCC's outgoing deputy chairperson and has appointed her to the Productivity Commission.
