The Productivity Commission has released the preliminary findings of its ongoing public inquiry into the increased application of competition, contestability and informed user choice to human services.
The Commission's inquiry into applying competition principles to human services was a recommendation of the Harper Review (Competition Policy Review).
The Commission has identified six priority areas where the potential to give people a greater say over the human services they use could improve the effectiveness of those services:
- social housing
- services at public hospitals
- specialist palliative care
- public dental services
- services in remote Indigenous communities
- family and community services.
Councils are invited to examine the preliminary findings report and make written submissions to the Commission by Thursday 27 October 2016.
The final study report is due to be released in late November 2016. An inquiry report will be completed next year and will include recommendations on policy reform.
More information can be found on the Commission's website.