Skip to Content
 Close search

Completed inquiries

The following is a list of all completed Public inquiries and commissioned studies undertaken by the Commission.

Intellectual property arrangements

20 / 12 / 2016

The Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a 12 month public inquiry into Australia's intellectual property system. This inquiry is now complete.

Migrant intake into Australia

12 / 09 / 2016

A public inquiry into the greater use of charges relative to quotas and qualitative criteria to determine the intake of temporary and permanent entrants into Australia.

Public safety mobile broadband

12 / 01 / 2016

Commissioned study into the best way to secure a mobile broadband capability to meet the long term needs of Australia's public safety agencies (PSAs) - the police, fire, ambulance and emergency services.

Workplace Relations Framework

21 / 12 / 2015

Public inquiry into the performance of the workplace relations framework and identify improvements to maximise outcomes for Australian employers, employees and the economy.

Service exports

07 / 12 / 2015

This study looked into barriers to growth in Australian services exports, focusing on the education, financial services, health services, information technology, professional services and tourism sectors.

Business set-up, transfer and closure

07 / 12 / 2015

The Australian Government asked the Commission to undertake a public inquiry into the barriers to setting up and closing businesses and identify options for reducing barriers where appropriate.

Mutual recognition schemes

25 / 09 / 2015

Commissioned study into the operation of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) and the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA).

Natural disaster funding

01 / 05 / 2015

The Australian Government has asked the Commission to undertake a public inquiry into the efficacy of current national natural disaster funding arrangements, taking into account the priority of effective natural disaster mitigation and the reduction in the impact of disasters on communities.

Childcare and early childhood learning

20 / 02 / 2015

The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into future options for childcare and early childhood learning, with a focus on developing a system that supports workforce participation and addresses children's learning and development needs.

Access to justice arrangements

03 / 12 / 2014

Inquiry into Australia's system of civil dispute resolution, with a focus on constraining costs and promoting access to justice and equality before the law.

Costs of doing business in Australia: dairy product manufacturing

10 / 10 / 2014

The Australian Government has requested that the Productivity Commission undertake a six month study into the cost structures of businesses operating in the Australian dairy product manufacturing industry, including costs relative to international competitors.

Costs of doing business: retail trade industry

10 / 10 / 2014

The Australian Government has requested that the Productivity Commission undertake a 6 month study into the cost structures of businesses operating in the Australian retail trade industry, including costs relative to international competitors.

Australia's automotive manufacturing industry

26 / 08 / 2014

The Australian Government asked the Commission to undertake an inquiry into public support for Australia's automotive manufacturing industry.

Public infrastructure

14 / 07 / 2014

The Australian Government has asked the Commission to undertake a 6-month public inquiry into ways to encourage private financing and funding for major infrastructure projects, including issues relating to the high cost and the long lead times associated with these projects.

Tasmanian shipping and freight

24 / 06 / 2014

The Australian Government has asked the Commission to undertake an inquiry into current arrangements for subsidising shipping freight and passenger services between the mainland and Tasmania.

Geographic labour mobility

06 / 05 / 2014

The principal objective of the study was to examine patterns of mobility, impediments and enablers, and their effect on the ability to meet Australia's continually changing workforce and employment needs.

Mineral and energy resource exploration

05 / 03 / 2014

The Australian Government asked the Commission to undertake a 12-month inquiry into the non-financial barriers to mineral and energy resource exploration.

National access regime (2013)

10 / 02 / 2014

The Australian Government has asked the Commission to undertake a 12 month inquiry into the National Access Regime.

Safeguards inquiry into the import of processed fruit products

20 / 12 / 2013

Inquiry into whether safeguard action is warranted against imports of processed fruit products of the Australian Customs Tariff.

Major project development assessment processes

10 / 12 / 2013

The Australian Government has requested the Productivity Commission undertake a study to benchmark Australia's major project development assessment processes against international best practice.