In brief Yesterday, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims, announced the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities for 2021 and the market studies and advocacy work that the ACCC would continue this year. Mr Sims identified a range of industry sectors, as well as specific…

In brief Yesterday, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims, announced the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities for 2021 and the market studies and advocacy work that the ACCC would continue this year. Mr Sims identified a range of industry sectors, as well as specific…

Yesterday, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims, announced the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities for 2021 and the market studies and advocacy work that the ACCC would continue this year.

Mr Sims 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 2021.

The Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Penalties and Enforcement) Act 2020 (Act) commenced on 29 January 2021, arming the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) for the first time with the power to compulsorily seek information and to undertake compulsory examinations in the course of investigations.  The Act also very significantly increases the maximum penalties for contraventions of the civil penalty provisions in the National Energy Law and associated legislation and rules, on terms that are analogous to the penalty regime in the Australian Consumer Law.

This alert summarises the key changes and risks associated with the new regime that market participants should be aware of, and identifies steps that should now be taken to minimise those risks.

In brief On 9 November 2020, the Federal Government published a Decision Regulation Impact Statement (Decision RIS), recommending significant reforms to the unfair contract terms (UCTs) regime in the ‘Australian Consumer Law’ (ACL). If passed, the reforms will result in UCT’s being illegal and will give Federal Court the power…

Businesses have been straining under supply chain challenges to deal with the broader implications of COVID-19 and have been turning to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for permission to work together with their competitors to address these issues. This alert aims to provide practical guidance on when and…

Beliefs in markets and consumer protection guide the ACCC’s investigations and enforcement actions At an event hosted by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia in Sydney on Tuesday, Rod Sims, Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), announced the ACCC’s enforcement priorities for 2020. In opening, Mr…

“It’s just a post for our followers. Nothing I write on social media can be taken seriously. No one else checks this page anyway.” Social media is now a central component of any business’ sales and advertising: it’s just another way to market your products and services, or to share…

On 18 October 2017, the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Competition Policy Review) Bill 2017finally passed both Houses of Parliament. Coupled with the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse of Market Power) Bill 2017, it represents the most significant reform of Australian competition law in the past two decades.