Section 44ZZRT
Dual listed company arrangement

(1) Sections 44ZZRF and 44ZZRJ do not apply in relation to the making of a contract, arrangement or understanding that contains a cartel provision, in so far as:

(a) the contract, arrangement or understanding is a dual listed company arrangement; and

(b) the making of the contract, arrangement or understanding would, or would apart from subsection 88(8B), contravene section 49.

Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (1) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code and subsection (3) of this section).

(2) Sections 44ZZRG and 44ZZRK do not apply in relation to the giving effect to a cartel provision, in so far as:

(a) the cartel provision is a provision of a dual listed company arrangement; and

(b) the giving effect to the cartel provision would, or would apart from subsection 88(8B), contravene section 49.

Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (2) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code and subsection (3) of this section).

(3) A person who wishes to rely on subsection (1) or (2) in relation to a contravention of section 44ZZRJ or 44ZZRK bears an evidential burden in relation to that matter.

Introduced by Trade Practices Amendment (Cartel Conduct and Other Measures) Act 2009

Operative: 24 July 2009

The insertion of this provision was part of the package of reforms introducing criminal penalties for cartel conduct. The reforms also created a parallel civil cartel prohibition, replacing the former s 45A which dealt directly with price-fixing.

The reforms were initially recommend by the Dawson Committee as part of its 2002-2003 inquiry into the Competition Law provisions of the Trade Practices Act.

See further information and resources on the cartel page.