Rex calls for ACCC inquiry as prelude to productivity commission review

Regional Express (Rex) commended (14-Dec-2010) the Australian Government for its announcement of a Productivity Commission (PC) review of airport pricing, investment and services as part of a public inquiry into the economic regulation of major Australian airports. Rex noted that Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese was making good on the government's promise made in Apr-2010 to bring forward the PC inquiry from 2012 as a result of serious concerns flagged by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with regard to Sydney Airport in its Airport Monitoring Report released earlier this year. Rex stated the PC does not have the legal powers to compel Sydney Airport to open its books and be fully transparent with its pricing regime. Only an ACCC inquiry ordered by the Minister under Part VIIA of the Trade Practices Act can achieve this outcome. The carrier called on regional stakeholders to join it in urging the government to institute an ACCC inquiry into the airport. [more]