Infrastructure Pricing Provision and Process

2 FOREWORD This paper canvasses issues currently being researched under a grant from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, supported by the National Farmers Federation, Canberra. Very important issues are at stake for rural and regional Australia in the implementation of National Competition Policy reforms – particularly as they bear on the pricing and supply of economic infrastructure services and hence on the international competitiveness of the rural sector. Process, as much as policy and economic theory, is important in understanding and equipping rural and regional Australia to participate effectively in this key area of microeconomic reform. The devil is indeed in the detail. This paper is designed to indicate the kind of key questions and issues being examined in our research project and assist in informing rural and regional stakeholders generally of the issues involved. Feedback and practical material from rural and regional Australia will be a welcome input into our research task, and help with the formulation of policy and practical recommendations in our final Report.