Consumer Advisory Committee
The legislative amendments supporting the introduction of full retail competition in Queensland's energy market require the Queensland Competition Authority to establish a Consumer Advisory Committee to advise the Authority on the interests of consumers (particularly the interests of small consumers) in the exercise of the Authority's responsibilities under the Electricity Supply Act and Gas Supply Act.
On 7 March 2007, the Authority issued a draft Charter that identified the objectives of the Committee, its terms of reference, initial membership and operating arrangements. The draft Charter also addressed the administrative issues of remuneration of members, administrative support and the handling of confidential information.
The Authority received seven submissions in response to the draft Charter which the Authority has considered in preparing a final Charter for the Consumer Advisory Committee. The Charter can be downloaded below.
Following this consultation process, the Consumer Advisory Committee Charter was approved on 18 April 2007.
The following organisations accepted invitations to become Members of the Consumer Advisory Committee:
- Queensland Consumers Association;
- Queensland Farmers Federation;
- Queensland Council of Social Services;
- Commerce Queensland;
- Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association;
- Financial Counsellors Association of Queensland;
- Griffith University Centre for Credit and Consumer Law; and
- Tenants Union of Queensland.
The initial meeting of the Consumer Advisory Committee was held on 6 June 2007. A copy of the minutes from this meeting and subsequent meetings can be accessed below.
Interim Reports/Papers
Submissions
