Section 3: Outcomes
General government sector (GGS) agencies are required to plan, budget and report under an outcomes structure. GGS agencies produce outputs (departmental items) and also administer items on behalf of the Government (administered items).
This section summarises how the resources identified in Section 2 will be used to contribute to the outcome for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Key performance measures and performance evaluation activities are specified for the outcome.
3.1 Summary of outcomes and contribution to outcomes
The relationship between activities of the ACCC and its outcome is summarised in below figure.
Figure 2: Contributions to outcomes
The ACCC has not made any changes to its outcome or outputs since the Portfolio Budget Statements 2006-07.
3.2 Outcome resources and performance information
3.2.1 Outcome 1 resourcing
The following table shows how the 2007-08 Budget appropriation translates to total resourcing for Outcome 1, including departmental appropriation and revenue from other sources.
Table 3.1: Total resources for Outcome 1
3.2.2 Measures affecting Outcome 1
The Budget measure for the ACCC appears in Table 2.2. Detail of this measure is included in Budget Paper No. 2, Budget Measures 2007-08.
3.2.3 Contributions to achievement of Outcome 1
The ACCC anticipates achieving this outcome through:
- publishing litigation and education activities;
- liaising with and informing business and consumers about the law;
- issuing publications and media releases, speak to the public, conducting public meetings and conferences, and using the latest technology to reach business and consumers throughout Australia;
- working with other competition, fair trading and consumer protection agencies in Australia and overseas;
- developing industry specific codes of conduct;
- assisting parliamentary inquiries and other government agencies to develop policies and processes that are consistent with competition, fair trading and consumer protection laws;
- liaising with other regulators, business and consumer associations; and
- helping overseas trading partners to develop and implement effective competition regimes to benefit Australian industries.
Administered activities
The ACCC’s main activity of an administered nature is the collection of revenues for fines and costs on behalf of the Government which are transferred to the Official Public Account.
Departmental outputs
The ACCC’s outputs of compliance with laws and competitive market structures reflect the Australian Government’s decision to foster competitive, efficient, fair and informed Australian markets.
The outputs reflect the activity that the ACCC undertakes to fulfil its role and functions. The Australian Government seeks to enhance the social and economic welfare of Australians which the ACCC seeks to contribute by;
- promoting effective competition and informed markets;
- encouraging fair trading and protecting consumers; and
- regulating the infrastructure service market and other markets where competition is restricted.
The ACCC commits to meet these goals through effective and timely outcomes in the public interest, and communicating its actions and results to the community at large.
3.2.4 Performance information for Outcome 1
The following table summarises the performance information for administered items, individual outputs and output groups relating to the ACCC.
Table 3.2: Performance information for Outcome 1
Table 3.2: Performance information for Outcome 1 (continued)
3.2.5 Evaluations for Outcome 1
There are no evaluations planned for Outcome 1 in 2007-08.
Output performance indicators (shown in the above table) will be used to measure evaluation activity for the outcome. The results of the evaluation will be shown in the ACCC Annual Report.