7Functions

7 Functions

(1) The functions of the Authority are to monitor and analyse steel industry matters and, where it thinks it appropriate, conduct inquiries, report to the Minister and make recommendations to the Minister on such matters. (2) In sub‑section (1), steel industry matters means matters relating to the steel industry and, in particular, the following matters:

(a) investment in the steel industry;

(b) the volume of steel produced by the steel industry and the volume of sales of that steel;

(c) the volume of steel imported into Australia;

(d) the volume of sales in Australia of steel, and particular steel products, produced by the steel industry, and those volumes expressed as a percentage of the total volumes of sales in Australia of steel and particular steel products respectively;

(e) changes in employment levels in the steel industry and the manner in which the changes are effected;

(f) the productivity of labour in the steel industry and the relationship between changes in the productivity of labour in the steel industry and the productivity of labour in other industries in Australia;

(g) wage settlements in the steel industry;

(h) compliance with agreed procedures for resolution of industrial disputes in the steel industry;

(j) the prices of steel produced by the steel industry and the prices of steel produced in foreign countries;

(k) the standards of product quality attained or set by the steel industry;

(m) the services that the steel industry provides to buyers of steel;

(n) the level of taxes and charges levied by the State Governments on the steel industry;

(p) assistance provided, and to be provided, by the Commonwealth to the steel industry;

(q) matters relating to the steel industry that the Minister, by notice in writing, refers to the Authority.