The Minister has approved our recommendations and agreed to release of the report.

The Authority is seeking to keep its own operating costs constant.

The recommended appropriations include an additional $2m in 2014/15, $3m in 2015/16 and $2.5m in 2016/17 for facilitating consumer participation.

Apart from the new funding for facilitating consumer participation, the recommended appropriations are in line with those approved by Cabinet in Budget 2013.