National assets including Medibank Private and Australia Post should be sold, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has told the government.

The ACCC has also urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to push for the privatisation of state-owned energy companies.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims says the government should relinquish long-held assets, such as Australia Post, to ensure productivity and the greatest benefit to the public. Credit:Dave Langley

Chairman Rod Sims has told The Australian Financial Review a root-and-branch review of competition laws should recommend the government relinquish control of long-held assets to ensure productivity and the greatest benefit to the public.

''I think it would be the most important driver of how Australia improves its productivity,'' Mr Sims told the Fairfax Media paper.