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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Submissions

Transcripts of public hearings

Media releases

Government response: No response to required

 

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

Telecommunications

Price exploitation

Did the ACCC overstate its powers?

The 10 per cent rule

ACCC's arguments for stronger trade practices laws

The effects test

Cease and desist power

Imprisonment

Splitting the ACCC

ACCC's performance overall

APPENDIX A - LIST OF SUBMISSIONS (PDF format 9KB)

APPENDIX B - LIST OF EXHIBITS (PDF format 10KB)

APPENDIX C - LIST OF HEARINGS AND WITNESSES (PDF format 11KB)

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