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
This Month
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
November
ACCC warns merger reform option could make deals cost more, take longer
Gina Cass-Gottlieb also rejected Treasury’s suggestions that companies only “rarely” fail to notify the watchdog of planned mergers.
- Hannah Wootton
AI a ‘great challenge’, Australian regulators warn
Artificial intelligence increases the potential for consumer harms, collusion and data misuse but would also help enforce laws, Australia’s top watchdogs warn.
- Hannah Wootton
Treasury casts doubt on ACCC claims about bad behaviour in mergers
The ACCC is pushing for a mandatory approval regime, meaning parties would not only have to tell the regulator of deals but also get approval before going ahead.
- Michael Read
Why suing Qantas is just the start for ACCC’s Cass-Gottlieb
The corporate world thought the head of the competition regulator would be on its side but that’s not how it’s turning out.
- Hannah Wootton
Qantas’ defence misses the point, see you in court: ACCC chief
Gina Cass-Gottlieb says her bombshell case against the airline goes to what customers were led to believe they were buying from Qantas.
- Hannah Wootton
October
- Opinion
- Energy
Why AusSuper thinks Origin deal doesn’t add up
The fund’s move provides spectacular evidence of the growing power of Australia’s industry superannuation funds on the local market.
- Updated
- Jennifer Hewett
Energy transition, digital shift make merger reform ‘critical’: ACCC
Fundamental changes to the economy triggered by decarbonisation and digitisation make it even more “critical” for the regulator to oversee major mergers, it warns.
- Hannah Wootton
Qantas says it ‘does its best’, no guarantees flights will take off
The competition regulator had accused the airline of selling tickets on more than 8000 services it had already decided to cancel, sometimes weeks earlier.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Labor backflips on aviation monitoring after Qantas drops opposition
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has reinstated the ACCC’s monitoring powers just weeks after the PM declared Australia had the most competitive aviation market “bar none”.
- Ayesha de Kretser
ANZ breached disclosure laws in $3b capital raising
ANZ breached its continous disclosure obligations when it did not disclose that underwriters had filled a $790 million shortfall, the Federal Court found.
- Updated
- Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
ACCC’s historic Origin call heralds start of ‘terrifying’ summer
The ACCC’s Origin decision recognises the urgency of the energy transition that seems to be lacking in other quarters.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Energy
Bowen and D’Ambrosio insist targets should be hard to achieve
Chris Bowen says the renewable energy targets have to be difficult to meet or there’s no point having them. But what is Plan B if - as is likely - they are too hard?
- Jennifer Hewett
- Updated
- Mergers & acquisitions
ACCC cites energy transition in approving Origin’s $18.7b takeover
A surge in Origin’s shares after its suitors won competition approval for their takeover offer has added further pressure for a bump-up in the offer price.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
September
Australia’s top five powerbrokers in the law for 2023
In what has been a transformative year for the sector, these are the nation’s most influential legal leaders.
- Michael Pelly
Richard Goyder weighs Qantas positives, Joyce’s payout
The Qantas board led by Richard Goyder will need to weigh up whether to release all shares and bonuses for Alan Joyce worth more than $21 million.
- Mark Di Stefano
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Qantas furore could boost ACCC’s M&A reform push
The Qantas mess has put competition policy in the spotlight. That’s good news for ACCC boss Gina Cass-Gottlieb and her campaign for merger reform.
- James Thomson
- Exclusive
- Aviation
ACCC urges Labor to move on Sydney Airport overhaul
In an interview the chairwoman of the competition watchdog, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said it was “a key time” for the chance to expand and provide competitive constraint.
- Ayesha de Kretser, James Thomson and Ronald Mizen
