Australian Capital Territory
Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (Notice of Acceptance) 
2005 (No 2)
Notifiable instrument NI2005–407
made under the 
Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Act 1997, s19C (Acceptance of regulatory references – government-regulated activities), s19E (Terms of regulatory references) and s19H (Procedure for regulatory reference investigations)

TERMS OF REFERENCE

for an investigation into the ACT Ambulance Service

Specified requirements in relation to investigation under section 19C:

Following a request from the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and pursuant to subsection 19C(1) of the Act, I specify the following requirements in relation to the conduct of the investigation:

The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (the Commission) will review and report on certain matters related to the fees and charges of the ACT Ambulance Service, as follows:
1.	Review the ACT Emergency Services Authority submission, Proposed Changes to Fees & Charges for Ambulance Services (27 July 2005).
2.	Provide advice on the submission, the recommended types of fees and charges and the proposed quantum, considering:
a)	the cost of providing ambulance services, and
b)	ambulance charging arrangements in other states and territories.
3.	Provide advice on any anticipated implications for the ACT of the current NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal review of ambulance fees and charges in NSW.
4.	Provide advice on possible alternative options to the present ambulance levy and fees and charges arrangements to fund the provision of ambulance services to the ACT (for example, a broad-based community levy similar to that in Queensland).

Specified requirements in relation to investigation under section 19E:

Pursuant to subsection 19E(1)(a) of the Act, I specify the following requirement in relation to the conduct of the investigation:

In undertaking the investigation, the Commission is to report on the matter no later than 23 December 2005.

Specified requirements in relation to investigation under section 19H:

Pursuant to subsection 19H(2)(a) of the Act, I specify the following requirement in relation to the conduct of the investigation:

In undertaking the investigation, the Commission is to request submissions from key interested parties and the wider public.

Paul Baxter
Senior Commissioner
for the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission
21 October 2005