The Hodgman Liberal Government supports strong and independent oversight of competition and pricing within the electricity, gas and water and sewerage sectors.
Earlier this year the Parliament passed the Economic Regulator Amendment Bill 2015 which made a number of changes to the composition of the Regulator and some of its roles and powers.
Today I am pleased to announce that following an open selection process the Government has appointed Joe Dimasi as the new Tasmanian Economic Regulator.
Mr Dimasi has extensive experience in economic and utilities regulation having served in many roles at the ACCC, including establishing and leading the Commission’s Regulatory Affairs Division, and was appointed as a Commissioner in 2008. He has also held economic-related roles with the Industry Commission (now the Productivity Commission), as well as with the Victorian Government departments of Treasury, Premier and Cabinet, and Business. Mr Dimasi has been involved in a range of matters relating to Tasmania in his time with the ACCC, including electricity and port reform.
The Regulator is an independent statutory body.
His responsibilities include regulating the water and sewerage and electricity sectors and he will prepare annual State of the Industry Reports for the next three years, which report on the performance of the water and sewerage industry and the energy sector.
Mr Dimasi replaces Mr Glenn Appleyard, who I would like to thank for his extended service and valued contribution to the State over the past seven years.