Andrew Leigh

MEDIA RELEASE

DR CRAIG EMERSON, SALLY MCMAHON AND KATRINA GROSHINSKI APPOINTED TO NATIONAL COMPETITION COUNCIL

The Albanese Government has appointed Dr Craig Emerson and Ms Sally McMahon and reappointed Ms Katrina Groshinski as a part-time Councillors to the National Competition Council each from 23 February 2024 until 17 August 2025.

Dr Emerson was the Federal Minister for Small Business from 2007-2010 and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs from 2009-2010. He was the Minister for Trade from 2010-2013. He is a former Queensland Government Director-General and senior Economic Adviser to Prime Minister Hawke.

Ms McMahon has more than 25 years’ experience working across Australia and in Canada in the energy sector and industry reform. She has broad and deep experience in energy issues across markets, networks, retail and consumer protection policy and regulation with strong technical understanding of the design, application and practices of industry and economic regulation including market assessment and operation, access, efficient pricing, financial concepts, connection policy and standards of service.

Ms Groshinski was first appointed to the National Competition Council in 2021. She specialises in competition and regulatory law and is a partner at Minter Ellison. She was previously a partner and senior associate at Clayton Utz.

The National Competition Council is an important institution in our competition policy framework. The National Competition Council is established by section 29A of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the Act). The National Competition Council’s functions include making recommendations to relevant ministers in relation to applications for declaration of services and the certification of state or territory access regimes under the National Access Regime (Part IIIA of the Act). The National Competition Council has a similar role under the Western Australian National Gas (Access) Law.

These appointments will continue the high level of skills and experience available to the National Competition Council, to help it perform its important role in relation to the regulation of third-party access to monopoly infrastructure services including those related to railways, ports and aviation.

Over recent decades, the Australian economy has seen an increase in market concentration and price markups. This has contributed to the poor productivity performance and sluggish wage growth that Australians experienced under the former government. Competition reform is vital to boosting productivity, which is why it is at the heart of the Government’s economic agenda.

Increasing penalties for anti-competitive conduct, banning unfair contract terms, reviewing the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, and tasking the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to review allegations of supermarket price-gouging are all part of our commitment to delivering shared economic prosperity.

As part of its work, the Australian Treasury’s Competition Taskforce will examine the role of competition institutions to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose for the modern economy. This will involve engaging with the states and territories on the role of the National Competition Council.

Ms McMahon and Ms Groshinski’s appointments also continue the Government’s strong record of identifying capable women for senior public sector roles.