Our work helps keep Western Australia’s economy strong and competitive. We do this by administering several of the National Competition Policy (NCP) requirements under the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Competition Policy and the associated Federation Funding Agreement.
You will find links to the main parts of the Department’s competition policy work below.
National Competition Policy Principles – Western Australia’s implementation timetable
Show moreThe National Competition Policy agreement requires us to publish a timetable showing how we will apply the competition principles by the end of 2026.
| Activity | Short description | Expected completion |
|---|---|---|
| Principle 1 – Governments should harness the benefits of competition | ||
| Review of Western Australia’s Better Regulation Program (BRP) | The BRP is being reviewed to align with the requirement of the NCP IGA to consider the competition impacts of major decisions with the potential for material impacts on competition | Updated Better Regulation Program in place by mid-2026 |
| Principle 2 – Governments should support consumers to benefit from competition | ||
| Develop and release guidance material for WA government agencies on mechanisms to facilitate consumer empowerment | Guidelines will be prepared to assist WA government staff in understanding how to apply this Principle to government policy development and programs | Agency guidance on applying the National Competition Principles released by December 2026 |
| Principle 3 – Reform of public monopolies, including privatisation, should not harm consumers | ||
| Develop and release guidance material for WA government agencies on the structural reform of public monopolies | Guidelines will be prepared to assist WA government staff in understanding how to apply this Principle to government policy development and programs. | Agency guidance on applying the National Competition Principles released by December 2026 |
| Principle 4 – Government and private businesses should compete on a level playing field | ||
| Update the Western Australian Policy Statement on Competitive Neutrality | The 1996 Policy Statement on Competitive Neutrality is being reviewed to align with the requirements of the NCP IGA, including: clearly defining a significant government business activity; including new guidance on debt neutrality, government start-ups and cross-jurisdictional issues; and improving the operation of the complaints mechanism. | Updated Policy Statement on Competitive Neutrality in place by December 2026 |
| Develop and release guidance material on community service obligations | Guidelines will be prepared to assist WA government staff in understanding how to apply this Principle to government policy and programs | Agency guidance on applying the National Competition Principles released by December 2026 |
| Principle 5 – Governments should promote a single national market | ||
| Update Western Australia’s BRP | The BRP Guidance will be updated to highlight the importance of assessing regulatory proposals for impacts on interstate trade to ensure proposals promote a single national market. | By mid-2026 |
| Develop and release guidance material for WA government agencies on avoiding creating barriers to interstate trade | Guidelines will be prepared to assist WA government staff in understanding how to apply this Principle to government policy development and programs. | Agency guidance on applying the National Competition Principles released by December 2026 |
| Principle 6 – Government pricing practices should be efficient and transparent | ||
| Review and update Western Australia’s 2020 Costing and Pricing Government Services Guidelines | The 2020 Costing and Pricing Government Services Guidelines have been updated to align with the requirements of the IGA, including: determining the actual direct cost of providing the good or service; exploring efficiency improvements to reduce the cost of providing a good or service; and considering the social costs or benefits from providing a good or service (externalities). | The updated Costing and Pricing Government Services Guidelines were released on 5 November 2025. |
| Principle 7 – Access to significant infrastructure facilities should be on reasonable terms and prices | ||
| Develop and release guidance material for WA government agencies on the existing access regimes for significant infrastructure | Guidelines will be prepared to assist WA government staff in understanding the existing WA policies on access regimes. | Agency guidance on applying the National Competition Principles released by December 2026 |
Better Regulation Program
Show moreThe Better Regulation Program guides the development, design, and implementation of regulatory proposals in Western Australia.
Under the Program, Government regulatory proposals are required to:
• apply the Better Regulation Principles;
• explain any economic impacts associated with the proposal; and
• undertake full impact assessment for proposals that have significant economic impacts.
The Better Regulation Unit works with agencies to ensure decisions to make or change regulations are based on high quality analysis and that regulatory proposals comply with Cabinet requirements (see Cabinet Handbook).
See Better Regulation Program for more details and contact information.
Competitive Neutrality Policy
Show moreCompetitive neutrality means government owned businesses do not get an unfair advantage over the private sector just because they are owned by the government.
The WA Government’s Policy Statement on Competitive Neutrality explains how this is put into practice. It also formalises a complaints mechanism allowing businesses and others to raise matters if they think a government business has an unfair advantage.
See Competitive Neutrality Policy for more details and contact information
Costing and Pricing Guidelines
Show moreTo deliver government services efficiently, transparently and sustainably, agencies need to know the true cost of service provision and apply appropriate pricing principles when setting tariffs, fees, and charges.
DTF’s Costing and Pricing Guidelines assist agencies to better understand their costs and the factors that have the greatest influence on those costs.
Rail Access
Show moreThe Western Australian Rail Access Regime includes the Railways (Access) Act 1998 and the Railways (Access) Code 2000. It encourages efficient use of railways and new investment in them, while avoiding unnecessary duplication in railways.
The regime does this by establishing a framework for third parties to gain access to certain railways where commercial negotiations have failed.
It covers:
- the State freight network in the South West of Western Australia;
- the Public Transport Authority’s urban passenger network;
- Fortescue Metals Group’s Pilbara Infrastructure railway; and
- Roy Hill’s railway.
The independent Economic Regulation Authority is responsible for implementing the monitoring, enforcement, and administrative functions of the Code. For more information, see Rail Access – Economic Regulation Authority Western Australia.
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