The Federal Government has officially recommended that the Governor-General appoint Peter Harris as the new Chair of the Productivity Commission.

 

A lifelong public servant, Mr Harris is currently the Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

 

More recently, he has had responsibility for the structural separation of Telstra and the creation of the universal service obligation entity Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency (TUSMA), as part of the National Broadband Network negotiations with Telstra.

 

As Chair of the Productivity Commission, Mr Harris will play a key role as the Government continues to build on our world-beating economic resilience and strengthen our community.

 

The Government thanked outgoing Chair, Gary Banks, for his leadership of the Commission and his contribution to public policy over the last 15 years.

 

The Government will recommend Mr Harris be appointed for a five-year period to commence early in 2013.