The Productivity Commission was created as an independent authority by an Act of Parliament in 1998, to replace the Industry Commission, Bureau of Industry Economics and the Economic Planning Advisory Commission.

Our roots go deeper, to the establishment of the Industries Assistance Commission in 1974 (which itself replaced the Australian Tariff Board) and, later, the Industry Commission in 1989.

From Industry Assistance to Productivity: 30 Years of 'The Commission'

This publication was released in 2003 to mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Industries Assistance Commission.