ACCC policy on accepting speaking engagements

The ACCC will consider all speaking invitations with regard to the relevance of the topic and the audience.

All invitations should be sent to speeches@accc.gov.au rather than sent directly to the invitee.

The ACCC generally seeks to recover costs for speaking engagements at conferences or conventions where people pay to attend.

For not-for-profit events our cost-recovery policy is generally waived; however, we usually ask for two free passes for ACCC staff to attend for learning and development purposes.

Our cost-recovery policy is explained more fully below.

Invitations

Invitations should be sent to speeches@accc.gov.au.

The more you tell us about the event, the more likely it is we can find the right person to speak to your audience. Try to include the following details in your invitation:

  • Proposed speaker
  • Proposed date and time
  • Location (city and venue address)
  • Event subject
  • Length and type of address (e.g. 30-minute formal speaking event)
  • Proposed topic to be covered by the ACCC
  • Other invited or confirmed speakers
  • Expected audience (e.g. legal fraternity, small business).

Availability

Senior executives and Commissioners are expected to attend Commission meetings in Canberra on Wednesdays between 9am and noon.

It is unlikely a speaking event will be accepted if it is scheduled during that time.

There are also a number of other regular commitments which demand time of Commissioners and senior staff, so the more notice you give the better the chance we have of being able to meet your request.

Cost-recovery policy

Below are the terms of the ACCC’s cost-recovery policy for speeches:

  • A speaker’s fee. This applies for events that are created by conference organisers as profit-making exercises. Fees are as follows:
    • Chairman $3000
    • Deputy Chairman or Commissioner $2500
    • Senior executive staff (CEO, Executive General Managers, Group General Managers and General Managers) $2000
    • Other staff $1500.
  • Return business class airfare (if required). This is for Commissioners and all senior executive staff. For non-SES staff a return economy class airfare is suitable. The ACCC will book and pay for flights and invoice the conference organiser to recover these costs.
  • Accommodation (if required). The ACCC will book and pay for accommodation and invoice the conference organiser to recover these costs.
  • Two free conference passes for ACCC staff.
  • Boardroom luncheon events. The ACCC does not charge for these types of events, but organisers generally offer to make a contribution towards the ACCC’s costs such as airfares if required.