House of Representatives Committees

Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration

Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Competing Interests: is there balance? Review of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Annual Report 1999-2000

The Committee tabled its report Competing Interests: is there balance? Review of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Annual Report 1999-2000 on 24 September 2001. Copies of the full report are available in PDF format (202KB) or from the Committee Secretariat.

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Table of contents of report: Competing Interests: is there balance? Review of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Annual Report 1999-2000

FRONT SECTION (PDF format 35KB)

(This document contains the sections of the report from the Foreword to the List of Abbreviations)

FOREWORD

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION (PDF format 28KB): Background; Ongoing concerns with the ACCC's role; Continuing the watch on the watchdog: The review; Structure of the report

CHAPTER 2 – ACCC'S ROLE IN PREVENTING ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR (PDF format 55KB)

Background

Mergers

ACCC approach to mergers
Criticism of ACCC approach
Case studies

Cartels

Authorisation

Case studies
Assistance to rural medical services

Protection of small business

Case studies
Legislative changes

CHAPTER 3 – PRICES OVERSIGHT (PDF format 45KB)

Background

Current prices oversight powers of the ACCC

Prices Surveillance Act 1983: Declarations and the price notification process; Inquiries into pricing; Price monitoring
Trade Practices Act 1974: Part IIIA - The access regime; Part VB - Price exploitation in relation to NTS
Informal price monitoring: Petroleum products; Bank fees and charges

Proposed changes to PS Act

CHAPTER 4 – ENFORCEMENT ISSUES (PDF format 56KB)

Allegations of 'arm twisting' by the ACCC