Australia: Economist Dimasi rejects petrol job, exits ACCC early

Economist Joe Dimasi, who, in 2008, was appointed Petrol Commissioner to oversee the petrol market by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, announced Wednesday he would not seek reappointment. Further, Dimasi announced his resignation of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, months before his scheduled term’s expiration in November. According to reports, the Petrol Commissioner was appointed by the Prime Minister to track fuel prices and improve “competitive outcomes of the fuel industry” in the nation. Dimasi; following his appointment, the Rudd Government announced the role would include probing fuel prices and supplies, but had denied the title and insisted publically that he was not actually the Petrol Commissioner. ACCC chairman Rod Sims will now take on the responsibility of fuel market oversight. A new Petrol Commissioner will not be appointed. Neither Dimasi nor Rudd offered comment on the matter.

Full Content: The Australian

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