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The ACCC has announced the industry sectors and competition and consumer law issues in focus for 2023/24

In brief

Yesterday, the Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Gina Cass-Gottlieb, announced the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities for 2023/24 and the market studies and advocacy work that the ACCC would continue this year.

Ms. Cass-Gottlieb identified a range of industry sectors, as well as specific competition and consumer law issues that will be the focus of the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement activities for 2023/24.  Many of these areas continue from last year.


Key takeaways

  • Key sectors the ACCC will be focusing on in 2023/24 include gas markets, the digital economy, essential services (particularly telecommunications and energy) and the financial services sector.  The ACCC will also continue its ongoing focus on digital platforms.
  • The ACCC will work to improve compliance with environmental and sustainability claims (addressing what is often referred to as ‘greenwashing’), prevent scams, enforce new prohibitions on unfair contract terms, prevent anti-competitive exclusive arrangements and ensure consumer product safety (particularly for young children).
  • The ACCC will continue to focus on its enduring priorities, with a renewed focus on cartel conduct, product safety and conduct impacting First Nations Australians.

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Author

Lynsey Edgar is a partner in the Sydney dispute resolution team, whose practice focuses on competition and consumer law. She is global co-lead of the Firm's Competition Litigation Taskforce. Lynsey is recognised in Legal500 (Competition and Trade, Australia, 2022), where she is described by clients as having "high commercial acumen" and providing "clear and commercial merger control advice". Client feedback to Chambers & Partners states that Lynsey is "outstanding in her ability to advise on complex matters". Lynsey is a member of the Law Council of Australia's Competition and Consumer Committee, and has spoken widely on topics including compliance with competition law and responding to regulatory investigations.

Author

Georgina Foster is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Sydney office and leads the Firm’s Australian competition practice.

Author

Helen Joyce is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group in Melbourne. She joined the Firm in 2010 having spent the prior decade practising as a solicitor in London. Helen is recognised in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers Australia for Competition Law and Litigation.