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Price regulation of the utility sector occurs mainly at the wholesale level. In contrast, in Australian superannuation, regulation requires limited disclosure of fees and costs at the retail level. This paper reviews the regulatory theory that has led utilities regulators to focus on wholesale-level disclosure. It then applies the insights used in these sectors to analyse mechanisms for price and cost disclosure which could be applied to Australian superannuation. The paper argues that intervention done once, but done right, may reduce the need for mandatory retail-level disclosure and would reduce some aspects of regulatory information asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the development of CSIRO's intellectual property commercialisation from its beginnings in 1949 to 2006. The paper focuses on spinoff companies in commercialisation and the particular drivers, both economic and policy-based, that have led to particular patterns of commercialisation and spinoff formation over the years. Trends are analysed in three main periods, which correspond with particular policy approaches to CSIRO by its owner, the Australian Government: 1949-1983 (science focused, ad hoc commercialisation, little or no overt government influence); 1984-1996 (organisational commercialisation policies emerge, government sets external earnings targets); and 1996 - 2006 (more sophisticated organisational management of commercial interactions, government involvement in broad research priority setting and extensive grant schemes). Case studies illustrate the themes discussed. Successful commercialisation by CSIRO will require continuation of the careful approach to commercialisation that has evolved in the last 5 - 6 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the use of disclosure in the regulation of the franchise sector in Australia, demonstrating that it does not meet conditions considered necessary for effective informational regulation. First, there is not enough reliable information to gauge the risks in informing the design of regulatory process and the choice of tools; second, the information in the disclosure document is not uniformly reliable, accessible and useable; and, third, a franchisee's ability to act on the information is limited because the franchise contract is not subject to negotiation and there are limited alternatives in the market. As potential solutions, this paper proposes that increased cooperation among and fuller representation of stakeholders, better information from dispute resolution processes, and registration of disclosure would improve the level of information about the sector generally. To ensure reliable, accessible and useable information, the information that is required to be disclosed should be identified by all stakeholders, with assurance that it is provided in an accessible, useable way. Finally, educational initiatives are needed to enhance franchisees' ability to act on the information. This paper also briefly surveys some other regulatory tools used in the regulation of franchising, but urges that these tools be selected as part of a democratic and participative regulatory process that accurately represents the interests of all stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the fate and possible future of the clothing industry, which has been deeply affected by the Australian Labor Party's (ALP) programme of 'structural adjustment' and industry policy reform. The trade and industry development policy in Australia is evaluated by examining two influential 'industry development' reports: the Garnaut Report and the Pappas/Carter Report, the latter of which offers the mainstream challenge. Following an examination of the structure of the Australian clothing industry, the paper looks at the impact of the radical shift in government industry policy in the 1980s and considers and assesses the Industries Assistance Commision's TCF (Textile, Clothing, and Footwear) Plan, the key feature of which was the dismantling of the quota system. The effects of the imposed changes to the working practices and strategies of both the major and minor principals involved in the industry are examined and conclusions drawn as to the future plans open to producers to cope with possible new government policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, insider trading by individuals or corporations can attract either criminal or civil penalties. This article considers the potential deterrent effect of the different types of penalties for illegal insider trading and concludes that while criminal prosecution remains the preferred enforcement option in relation to wrongdoing by individuals motivated by personal gain, civil penalty proceedings may be a more effective deterrent of unlawful conduct by individual wrongdoers motivated by corporate success, or by corporations. If so, this may have implications for penalties design in relation to other forms of white-collar crime, at least where the harm caused is not to an individual victim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a framework for differentiating between foreign acquisitions of companies that might plausibly pose a national security threat to the home country of the target acquisition and those that do not. This framework originally derives from the experience of the United States. The framework is then shown to be relevant and useful for foreign acquisitions in Canada and Australia. In each case, Chinese acquisitions of US, Canadian, or Australian firms are highlighted. The article concludes by arguing that this framework can serve as an effective nondiscriminatory basis for separating genuine from implausible national security threats from foreign acquisitions across OECD states, to include all countries around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at the citizen-based deliberative approaches used in the debate on whether or not, and to what degree, to allow genetically modified (GM) crops by Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand. Moratorium on the introduction of GM crops put in place in Great Britain, while the U.S. has seen no organized public opposition to GM crops; Goal of the three countries to broaden the public approval basis for a final political decision on GM crops; Growth of GM crops on 59 million hectares globally, in just four countries including the U.S., Argentina, Canada and China; Information on the GM crop debates in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. INSETS: Controversy Over GM Crops in the United kingdom;Sample Background Briefing Material used in the U.K. GM Debate.