Background
The Australian Government has announced a review of the industry to assess challenges, overcome barriers to success and to identify and maximise new opportunities. To see the specific areas covered by the review, please refer to the Review's Terms of Reference.
The Government will separately request the Productivity Commission to undertake modelling on economy-wide effects of future assistance options. The Commission's modelling will be released publicly to inform the panel's examination of the industry, public debate, and the Government's deliberations in this area.
The automotive review will take place concurrently with the recently announced review of Australia's national innovation system and will have regard to the issues raised in that review.
The Review Panel
The review of the industry is being conducted by Mr Steve Bracks, the former Premier of Victoria. Mr Bracks is supported by an expert panel comprising:
- Mr Tim Harcourt (Chief Economist, Australian Trade Commission);
- Mr Peter Upton (former CEO, Federation of Automotive Products Manufacturers);
- Dr Elizabeth Webster (Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research); and
- Mr Nixon Apple (Industry and Investment Policy Adviser, ACTU).
Timeframes
Mr Steve Bracks, head of the Review, will provide an Interim Report to the Government on 31 March 2008 and will also release an Issues Paper and invite public submissions on 31 March 2008. Public Submissions will be due by 14 May 2008, with Mr Bracks to complete a final report by 31 July 2008. Submissions will be made available on this website.