We are saddened to learn of the passing of our former commissioner, Richard Clarke. A prominent expert in policy design, governance, institutional reform, market design and regulation, Richard championed practical design and robust assessment of regulation and prices, and a deep commitment to evidence-based decision making during his five years as a commissioner at the Essential Services Commission from 2014 to 2019.
As a commissioner, Richard was involved in a diverse range of decisions including the 2018 price reviews of 17 water businesses, the development of the PREMO framework, reviews of taxi fares, and accident towing fees, establishing the local government rate capping framework, and the regulatory approach to the Port of Melbourne, the development of family violence protections for water and energy customers and the energy payment difficulty framework.
The list of Richard’s professional achievements is long, and his work continues to shape discussions and decisions in Australia and afar about how rules and regulations, governments and businesses, markets and measures can better serve the community. Richard was driven by a deep curiosity and steely determination to improve the connections that hold public policy together in order to bring lasting positive change to the community.
Richard had more than 40 years of professional experience in major public policy issues in the public and private sectors. He held senior roles in the Australian Productivity Commission, the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, the New Zealand Productivity Commission, the Queensland Productivity Commission, and the Better Regulation Executive in London. No one has developed outstanding policy advice at more productivity commissions than Richard.
Richard also led teams in Victoria’s Department of Treasury and Finance responsible for state taxation policy and urban water reform. He was a research fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies at Monash University during the early 1980s, working on reform of public utilities, followed by six years as Chief Economist for Shell Australia, a leader in scenario planning. He held a Master of Economics and Bachelor of Economics, both from Monash University.
Richard was a wonderful colleague, and a friend to so many in the economics and policy sphere. He had high integrity and was a caring and thoughtful person who helped develop many young economists.
The commissioners, executive and broader team at the Essential Services Commission offer our deep condolences to Richard’s family, friends and colleagues – our thoughts are with you. We remember Richard as an outstanding intellectual leader. We are grateful for his leadership, courage and friendship. Richard will be sorely missed.
