Harnessing Data and Digital Technology – Productivity Commission Inquiry (Pillar 3)
Lead Agency - Productivity Commission – Government of Australia
Status: Closed - Submissions received and under review
About the Consultation
As part of its 10-year Competition Reform Roadmap, the Productivity Commission invited feedback on how to better use data and digital technology to improve productivity, service delivery, and consumer outcomes. GS1 Australia is specifically responding to Pillar 3 of the inquiry - Harnessing Data and Digital Technology - focused on unlocking the value of data to empower consumers, streamline regulation, and stimulate innovation.
Why this matters for GS1 members and industry:
Global supply chains, trade, and regulatory systems increasingly rely on standardised, trusted data. This consultation provided a national forum to influence how digital transformation is shaped - particularly in areas like product information, business identity, and traceability. It links directly to efforts across sectors to simplify labelling, automate compliance, and improve data sharing between businesses and government.
How to Have Your Say (consultation now closed)
Participants were invited to:
Review the Commission’s discussion papers and issue briefs
Make written submissions online
Propose additional policy reforms aligned with competition and digital economy goals
Key Documents & Links
Competition Reform Roadmap
GS1 Australia Submission Summary
GS1 Australia’s submission focused on the foundational role of data standards in unlocking digital productivity gains. While technology is important, it is the quality, structure, and interoperability of data that enables scale, automation, and trust.
GS1 Australia proposed three practical reform areas to support national productivity uplift:
Registries – Make public and private data registries (e.g. for products, businesses, locations) discoverable, interoperable, and verifiable using open global standards.
Digital Labelling – Support national adoption of digital labelling based on linked data standards, enabling real-time product information access, regulatory compliance, and consumer empowerment.
Verifiable Business Credentials – Modernise ABNs and ACNs to support portable, digital trust credentials – improving trade, compliance, and fraud prevention.
GS1 argued these reforms are low-risk, leverage existing infrastructure, and align with international best practice (including UN/CEFACT, W3C, and ISO). Independent modelling by the Centre for International Economics shows that GS1 standards already deliver up to $27 billion in GDP uplift annually, with further gains possible through expanded use.
For More Information - Contact Us
GS1 Australia Public Policy Team
📧 publicpolicy@gs1au.org
📞 +61 3 9558 9559 or 1300 BARCODE