Yesterday
ACCC rejects Treasury’s attempts to copy US, NZ merger laws
The competition watchdog has warned Treasury that two of the government’s three proposals for merger reforms would fail to fix systemic problems, leaving consumers, small businesses and farmers worse off.
- Hannah Wootton
ACCC wants switching banks to be as easy as ditching mobile providers
Gina Cass-Gottlieb’s ACCC deposit inquiry calls for Australia to introduce an account switching service like the ones that operate in Britain and the Netherlands.
- James Eyers
Sydney Airport flight slot manager has ‘conflict of interest’: ACCC
The company that chooses which aircraft take off and land at Sydney Airport is majority-owned by Qantas and Virgin.
- Jenny Wiggins
This Month
Google, Meta warned: Negotiate new media deals or face mediation
Many of the News Media Bargaining Code deals struck in 2021 are up for renewal next year. The government says it will designate platforms like Meta and Google.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Inside the Chemist Warehouse franchisee world
There are over 200 managing partners who are shareholders in the discount chain. They are all ambitious pharmacy owners, many with multiple sites.
- Carrie LaFrenz
ACCC lashes banks for ‘opaque’ pricing of savings products
The ACCC has called for banks to notify customers of changes to bonus savings rates to help them switch, in the final report of its retail deposits inquiry.
- James Eyers
- Analysis
- Government Observed
Why scammers and streamers are in the government’s sights
After years of delay, the government has quietly agreed to a suite of new powers and tools to deal with bad behaviour from the big digital platforms.
- Tom Burton
Ignore pandemic problems in setting competition policy, Qantas says
The carrier, in a submission to the government, says its recovery from COVID-19 is no different to any airline. It suggests more scrutiny on airports.
- Ayesha de Kretser
ACCC gives nod to Woolworths pets deal with asset sales in tow
The purchase price for the supermarket giant’s 55 per cent stake in the pet company is now expected to be $438 million, reduced from $586 million.
- Carrie LaFrenz
ACCC says it’s too soon to regulate port fees
The competition watchdog has shied away from regulating so-called “access” fees charged by port stevedores despite industry profits surging to record highs.
- Jenny Wiggins
Sigma could shed customers after Chemist Warehouse merger
The deal, creating an $8.8 billion retail and wholesaling giant, could even be blocked by competition regulators, according to analysts at Morningstar.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Tom Richardson
One last ‘blowout’ at Christmas then hard times on way
The CEO of Linfox, the transport giant owned by Rich Lister Lindsay Fox, is bracing for a downturn in the economy in February and March.
- Simon Evans
Home loan competition won’t last: ACCC
The competition watchdog is arguing to uphold its rejection of ANZ’s purchase of Suncorp’s bank. It warned major lenders were already acting in lock-step.
- Lucas Baird
The fate of ANZ and Suncorp deal is in the hands of these three people
The high-stakes legal battle over whether the $4.9 billion transaction should proceed is half done. And so far, it is unclear who’s on top.
- James Eyers
Banks warn of mortgage rises from deposit rate intervention
MyState CEO Brett Morgan says, “in any intervention, there is a benefit and there is a cost”.
- Updated
- Lucas Baird
Competition regulator drags its paws on Woolworths’ PETstock buy
Next week will mark the 12-month anniversary of Street Talk’s report that the supermarket giant was preparing to buy the pet foods and accessories group.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
ACCC lets banks enter emergency talks on the future of cash
The competition regulator granted the Australian Banking Association interim authorisation to hold meetings to consider Armaguard’s request for extra funding.
- James Eyers
Qantas risks regulator looking for ‘second bite of cherry’
The airline is sticking by its claims that passengers don’t book specific flights, just a promise to get from A to B.
- Ayesha de Kretser and Michael Pelly
ANZ argues plenty of competition in bid to reverse blocked deal
The bank’s lawyers told a tribunal that the ACCC made an error in blocking the deal, and changes to the lending sector had only boosted competition.
- Lucas Baird
Mattress maker accuses rivals of dodgy marketing with fake reviews
One of the Young Rich Lister founders of Sleeping Duck says the websites are owned by rival companies and are masquerading as review sites.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
