Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Act 1997

A referring authority may provide an industry reference to the commission in relation to any of the following matters:

prices for regulated services;

competition within a regulated industry;

any other matter in relation to a regulated industry;

any matter in relation to regulated industries in general;

any other matter in relation to an industry, or industries in general;

any matter provided for by another law of the Territory.

An industry reference may limit the scope of the investigation and report to a particular aspect of the regulated industry, or to a particular period during which the industry has been operating, or in any other matter.

An industry reference that authorises the commission to make a price direction may state the period the price direction is to apply.

If an industry reference mentioned in subsection (3) does not state the period the price direction is to apply, the commission must determine the period.

An industry reference that authorises the commission to make a price direction about maximum prices for the sale of energy to small customers (however described) may state the NERL retailer to whom the direction is to apply.

An industry reference may relate to a number of goods or services supplied by the same or different suppliers.

An industry reference may be withdrawn or amended by the referring authority at any time before the commission has delivered its report to the person.

If an industry reference is amended or withdrawn, the referring authority must prepare a written notice setting out the reasons for the amendment or withdrawal.

The referring authority must give a copy of the notice to the commission.

The notice is a notifiable instrument.