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The implementation of smart metering in Australia is currently the focus of considerable attention. The Federal Government’s recent Energy White Paper promotes smart metering as a way to provide information about electricity usage and curb peak-time demand to reduce bills. Frontier (Australia) assesses the proposal in a client briefing and finds that the benefits of the required investment in Australia may not be justified by the costs.

For more information, or to request a copy of the client briefing, please contact Marita O’Keeffe at m.okeeffe@frontier-economics.com.au or call on +61 (0)3 9620 4488.

Frontier (Australia) Chairman, Philip Williams, has commented in The Australian today on whether there is a need for an additional regulator to police media acquisitions.

Earlier this year, the Federal Government's Convergence Review recommended the establishment of a new communications regulator. Such a regulator would have the power to examine changes in ownership of nationally significant businesses that produce content and would have the power to block a transaction if the proposal was not in the public interest. The Government is currently considering this proposal.

The article says that concerns about media ownership are concerns about product variety. A change in media ownership may mean a contraction in the variety of views that are available. But these issues are considered under the current merger test by the ACCC, the Competition Tribunal and the courts. To create a second regulator with a test that is only slightly different is likely to give rise to serious problems of overlap and serious disputes between regulators over jurisdiction.

For more information, or to request a copy of the article, please contact Marita O’Keeffe at m.okeeffe@frontier-economics.com.au or call on +61 (0)3 9620 4488.

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