Hot topics

Criminal cartel case
On 15 Feb 2017 the first criminal cartel charges against an Australian corporation were laid, as well as the first criminal cartel charges against individuals. The case is listed for mention on 14 March 2018.

Pecuniary penalties
In March 2018 the OECD released a report on Pecuniary Penalties for Competition Law Infringements in Australia.

Harper Review
The Harper Review reported in March 2015 and the Government response was received in November of that year. It's back in the news in 2017 because two bills were introduced to implement the Harper reforms. Both passed and commenced on 6 November 2017.

Misuse of market power
The Government, on 1 December 2016, introduced a bill designed to introduce the 'effects test' propose in the Harper Report. The Bill (amended) passed through the House in March 2017 and the Senate in August. Commencement was contingent on passage of the other Harper Bill (which passed in October 2017). The change commenced on 6 November 2017.

Merger authorisation
The Tribunal approves another merger authorisation - this time Tabcorp's proposed acquisition of Tatts. But there's a twist; the ACCC successfully applied for judicial review. The matter returned to the Tribunal and it approved the merger again.

Definition of market in Australia
In June 2017 the High Court unanimously dismissed appeals from Air NZ and PT Garuda Indonesia relating to the air cargo cartel; the focus of the appeal was on whether the parties' conduct occurred in a 'market in Australia', as was then required in relation to price fixing. The High Court unanimously held that there was a market in Australia.

Digital platforms review
The Government has directed the ACCC to commence an inquiry looking at the effect 'digital search engines, social media platforms and other digital content aggregation platforms are having on competition in media and advertising services markets'. Final report due mid-2019.

Criminal cartel case
On 14 July 2016 The Commonwealth Director of public prosecutions filed an indictment against Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha in the Federal Court of Australia. This was the the first case alleging a contravention of the criminal cartel laws introduced in Austarlia in 2009. NYK subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2017.

Harper Review
The Harper Review reported in March 2015 and the Government response was received in November; back in the news in 2016, the Government has now (September 2016) released exposure draft legislation designed to implement most of the recommendations and has (14 December 2016) introduced a bill designed to implement the misuse of market power reforms.

Misuse of market power
Misuse of market power will remain a hot topic in 2016; the Government has now (14 December 2016) introduced a bill designed to introduce the 'effects test' propose in the Harper Report.

Harper Review
The hottest topic for 2015 remains the Competition Policy Review (Harper Review), which delivered its final report in March. The Government response was received in November.

Misuse of market power
Misuse of market power was a hot topic in 2014 and will remain so in 2015. The ACCC lost its misuse of market power case against Pfizer in February; on 18 March 2015 it lodged a Notice of Appeal against that decision. See also 2016.

Agreed penalties
The decision in CFMEU cast doubt on the ability of the ACCC to negotiate 'agreed penalties' with respondents. The High Court has clarified the position - ruling that parties to civil proceedings are free to submit agreed penalties to the court for consideration.

Cartels and agency arrangements
The 2013 arguably inconsistent outcomes in the ANZ and Flight Centre cases in 2013 have led to some uncertainty about the circumstances in which agents may be considered in competition with their principals for purposes of the cartel laws. Both cases were appealed; the ACCC lost both appeals. There now appears consistency with the approach taken in both cases to agency arrangements - however, the ACCC successfully appealed to the High Court in the Flight Centre case.

Resale price maintenance
Possibly warm rather than hot - RPM attracted attention in 2014 when the ACCC granted the first ever RPM authorisation (despite the option being available to suppliers since 1995). The Harper Report recommended the introduction of a notification regime for RPM; the Government accepted this recommendation.

ACCC takes on Informed Sources
In August 2014 the ACCC instituted proceedings against Informed Sources and several petrol retailers alleging contravention of section 45. In December 2015 the ACCC announced that proceedings had been discontinued against Informed Sources after Informed Sources and the retailers agreed to make pricing information available to consumers at the same time the retailers receive it. See ACCC media release.

ACCC alleges egg cartel
In May 2014 the ACCC instituted proceedings alleging AECL and two egg producing companies attempted to induce egg producers to enter into a cartel. The matterwas heard in April 2015 before Justice White.

ICN - ACCC hosts International Competition Network Annual General Meeting
In April-May the ACCC hosted the 14th ICN Annual Meeting

Harper Review
The hottest topic for 2014 is the 'Son of Hilmer' Harper Review of Competition Policy.

Trade Practices Act celebrates 40 years
On 1 October 2014 the TPA (still in force but re-named the Competition and Consumer Act 2014) celebrated 40 years.

ACCC releases new immunity policy for cartel conduct
On 10 September 2014 the ACCC released a new cartel immunity and cooperation policy

Food and Grocery Code of Conduct
Treasury has been consulting on a Draft Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. A consultation paper was released in August - submissions closed on 12 September.

First Tribunal merger authorisation since 2007
In June 2014 the Australian Competition Tribunal granted its first direct merger authorisation.

ACCC takes on Informed Sources
In August 2014 the ACCC instituted proceedings against Informed Sources and several petrol retailers alleging contravention of section 45.

Supermarkets and shopper dockets
Following an investigation by the ACCC Coles and Woolworths agree to provide enforceable undertakings relating to the extent of shopper docket fuel discounts. The ACCC subsequently sued both companies alleging contravention of those undertakings.

Misuse of market power
Always a controversial provision, the Harper review has produced a plethora of submissions and some heated commentary on the appropriate test to be applied in abuse of power cases.

ACCC alleges egg cartel
In May 2014 the ACCC instituted proceedings alleging AECL and two egg producing companies attempted to induce egg producers to enter into a cartel

ACCC alleges Omniblend attempted to fix prices
In August 2014 the ACCC instituted proceedings against OmniBlend, alleging it attempted to engage in price fixing and RPM