Newsletters


Competition and Compliance Update

Competition & Compliance Update is prepared by crgESSENTIALS on behalf of Positive Compliance Action.  

crgESSENTIALS provides trade practices and compliance training to Government and other organisations.  For more information contact Greg d'Arville (photo on the right) on 0414 250025 or visit the crgESSENTIALS website www.crgessentials.com.

Archive copies of C&C Update are available for download, below.

2011

October 2011 (edition 41):  More moves on Watermove (Watermove Mark II) – governance and pricing ... Google and Trading Post ... Origin Deceptions: Aldi and Spring Gully, “King Island” meat ... Price deceptions: Austar Pay TV, Energy Watch ... ACCC enforcement: Cartel matters (construction bid rigging, question of immunity).

July 2011 (edition 40): unwelcome record for Optus ($5 m fine) ... CN investigation – South West Healthcare (store located in the Warrnambool Hospital - flawed costing exercise) ... authorisations and notifications: draft determination not to authorise an industry code of practice ... consumer warranties, consumer guarantees, new regulation.

April 2011 (edition 39):  prohibition of price signalling: first the banking sector, then ... CN investigation – South East Water Limited (complaint by private plumbing business) - the potential for a notice to promote one service provider over others ... ACC enforcement notes - cancer treatments, allergy treatments ... product safety - infant sleeping bags ... photocopy paperclub ... resale price maintenance - Allure Gold.

January 2011 (edition 38): Byebye TPA, Hello CCA - the commencement of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 ... restaurant matters and the first use of ACCC’s infringement notice powers (four traders pay their fines and no further action is taken) ... consumer guarantees, phone wars (rounds 1 - 3) ... ACCC enforcement: more Part V cases ... false endorsements ... Antitrust, freight and other cartels.

 

  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004 & earlier

October 2010 (edition 37): ACCC’s new powers – infringement notices and public warning notices ... mandatory product safety warning requirements ... recreational rorts ... enforcement: misuse of market power (Cabcharge) and resale price maintenance (ResMed).

July 2010 (edition 36): New Australian consumer law – the details. New ACC powers – unconscionable conduct, pyramid selling and false or misleading conduct. Infringement notices and substantiation notices. National unfair contract terms law comes into effect. Forthcoming changes. Enforcement action – claims and scams, cartels.

April 2010 (edition 35):  STOP PRESS: The Australian Consumer Law reforms, outlined in the January 2010 edition, were endorsed by the Senate on March 17  (further details in the July edition) ... Summer safety concerns – product safety issues ... ACCC Enforcement Part V cases – generous remedies ... “Endorsed by the ACCC” – really? ... notes on recent cartel cases (price fixing, agreement to withdraw from a procurement process, prevention of a collective boycott).

January 2010 (edition 34): The strategy document published by the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs, outlining a “new approach to consumer policy” ... concerns of the current Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission relating to bushfire bunkers ... ACCC goes to bed (three cases involving the sale of beds) ... the sale of “extra virgin olive oil” ... price fixing and market sharing by truck retailers.

October 2009 (edition 33):  Privacy and the TPA – acting in breach of a published privacy policy as misleading or deceptive conduct.  Small businesses beware: renewal scams, franchising.  Part IV enforcement – air freight, cartels.  ACCC authorisations – Sydney Councils' Waste Management Initiative.

July 2009 (edition 32):  An upsurge in visible ACCC activity around alleged cartel behaviour (price fixing, market sharing) — marine hoses, air freight matters, Patrick-P&O settlement, Australian Karting Association, DRS C3 Systems — other enforcement action, including unconscionable conduct, Part V.

April 2009 (edition 31): COAG agreement on a new consumer policy framework — the Australian Consumer Law, collective bargaining issues — record labels, health funds, newsagents, home loans, chicken growers, owner-drivers, “contactless” payment, anti-competitive taxi roster system, airline price fixing, misleading price claims, dumbest deception of 2009?.

January 2009 (edition 30):  Clarity in pricing (amendment to TPA), immunity for cartel whistleblowers, VCEC annual report - CN complaints & queries, status of complainant, air freight cartel, proceedings for 3rd line forcing, false claims.

October 2008 (edition 29): When is a flood not a flood? ... interim authorisation for waste management and recyclables finalised ... costing methodology for recreation centre under NCP ... consumer issues in telecommunications.

July 2008 (edition 28):“ Biggest TPA Reform in over 20 Years”, waste management in central Queensland, the perils of pricing — two-price advertising.

April 2008 (edition 27):  Major inquiries (petrol and groceries) ... green marketing ...VCEC issues two new Guidance Notes to assist Councils in competitive neutrality reviews.

January 2008 (edition 26):   Record penalty for price fixing - the box cartel, the abalone cartel, advisers fail to advise ... resale price maintenance (Navman) ... secondary boycotts, Next G.

October 2007 (edition 25):  Echuca paddlesteamers, price fixing and cartels - Qantas, stevedores, airconditioning, north Queensland pubs, funeral celebrants, ANZ & mortgage refunds, medical cartels ... ACC action against Google and Trading Post ... dodgy phone coverage.

July 2007 (edition 24):  Canberra affairs, TPA amendments.

April 2007 (edition 23):  Outcome of authorisation applications.

January 2007 (edition 22):  Authorisation applications.

October 2006 (edition 21):  On the road(s) again, livestock saleyards.

July 2006 (edition 20):  CN in food safety handling.

June 2005 (edition 16):  Unconscionable conduct law explained ... collective tender with waste management providers ... catalogue advertising ... anti-competitive liquor deals.

March 2005 (edition 15):  Competitive Neutrality ... misleading warranty claims ... alleged boycott ... alleged market sharing agreement ... Federal Court orders $23.3 million in penalties for petrol price fixing ... pet futon claims.

 

For copies of 2004 and earlier newsletters, contact Greg d'Arville.