Nexa Advisory welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Productivity Commission’s consultation on Pillar 5: Investing in Cheaper, Cleaner Energy and the Net Zero Transformation.
We commend the Productivity Commission for identifying key reform areas to reduce emissions costs, expedite infrastructure approvals and address barriers to private investment in adaptation. However, we believe the Interim Report does not go far enough to address systemic barriers impeding Australia’s ambition to become a clean energy superpower.
We reinforce our four key recommendations and outline where the Interim Report aligns, falls short and can be strengthened to drive productivity gains, including:
- Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) by State and Federal Energy Ministers
- Ensuring Orderly Coal Exit to Provide Certainty for Renewable Generation, Storage, and Transmission
- Providing Certainty to Investors to Mitigate Capital Flight
- Independent Review of the Role and Performance of Electricity Distribution Networks
Nexa Advisory also urges the Productivity Commission to adopt stronger recommendations, including an independent NEM-wide transmission review, an enforceable coal closure timetable, streamlined approvals prioritising non-network solutions, the appointment of an effective independent Clean Energy Coordinator-General that will focus on the implementation of the NEM Review and an independent review of DNSPs.
These measures will unlock investment, enhance resilience and deliver affordable, reliable energy needed to achieve productivity growth and economic prosperity for Australia.
You can read our full submission here: Productivity Commission interim report response submission Sept 2025