Mackay Chapman July 2023 ACCC Update

In this month’s ACCC update:

• The Australian Competition Tribunal has affirmed the ACCC’s decision not to grant authorisation for the proposed regional spectrum authorisation arrangements between Telstra Corporation Limited and TPG Telecom Limited.
• Australia’s east coast gas market is expected to have enough supply to meet overall demand in 2024.
• The ACCC has granted conditional authorisation to allow major supermarkets to continue their collaboration to manage the soft plastics stockpile and resume in-store collections after REDcycle suspended its recycling operations.

Australian Competition Tribunal denies authorisation for Telstra and TPG regional network deal

The Australian Competition Tribunal has affirmed the ACCC’s decision not to grant authorisation for the proposed regional spectrum authorisation arrangements between Telstra Corporation Limited and TPG Telecom Limited.

The Tribunal denied authorisation because it was not satisfied that the proposed arrangements were not likely to have the effect of a substantial lessening of competition, or that the benefit to the public likely to result would outweigh the detriment.

Read more about the decision here.

Gas supply outlook for 2024 improves but risk of winter shortfalls remains

Australia’s east coast gas market is expected to have enough supply to meet overall demand in 2024, the ACCC’s interim gas inquiry report reveals. 

But the outlook for winter this year and next is finely balanced, and the southern states will be reliant on Queensland’s surplus gas.

The report forecasts a 27 petajoule (PJ) east coast gas surplus for next year, if the LNG producers export all their currently uncontracted gas. It predicts a 90 PJ surplus if the LNG producers export only their currently anticipated spot sales.

You can find out more about the supply outlook here.

National Anti-Scam Centre's first fusion cell to disrupt investment scams

The National Anti-Scam Centre is to coordinate an investment scam fusion cell to combat the growing problem of investment scams, currently costing Australians more than $1 billion a year.

The fusion cell will be a time-limited task-force led by the ACCC and ASIC, and will include representatives from the banks, telecommunications industry and digital platforms. It will be the first fusion cell coordinated by the new National Anti-Scam Centre and will identify methods for disrupting investment scams to minimise scam losses.

Read more about the joint taskforce here.

Pricing practices and operating costs of childcare services to be examined, as latest ACCC report confirms fees outpaced inflation

The ACCC has been examining pricing and availability of childcare services, how households select childcare services, and the impact of Government contributions in its interim report.

The report draws on information collected from a range of childcare providers around Australia as well as a national voluntary survey of more than 4,000 parents and guardians who use childcare services.

The ACCC has spent the past six months collecting information to gain insights into what is important to families when selecting and using childcare, and what factors contribute to the price and availability of childcare in different areas.

Read more about the report findings here.

Cooperation to continue on soft plastics recycling after REDcycle collapse

The ACCC has granted conditional authorisation to allow major supermarkets to continue their collaboration to manage the soft plastics stockpile and resume in-store collections after REDcycle suspended its recycling operations.

Find out more here.

ACCC investigates as button battery products fail to comply with information rules to keep children safe

In a continuation of the story, the ACCC has revealed that more than a third of products containing potentially lethal button batteries failed to include mandatory warnings. The findings came from a national surveillance program coordinated by the ACCC.

While more than 90 percent of products and button batteries assessed likely complied with the safety standards based on a visual inspection, 34 percent of products containing the batteries and 28 percent of packs of button batteries did not include mandatory warning information or symbols.

Three Australian children have died from inserting or ingesting these batteries. 

Read more here.

‍

If any of the above is relevant to you or you want to know more, please feel free to get in touch.

‍
The contents of this article do not constitute legal advice and it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.  It is designed and intended as general information in summary form, current at the time of publication, for general informational purposes only.  You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any particular legal matters you or your organisation may have.