ACCC

Last month, our First Nations team travelled to regional communities across NSW to deliver consumer education resources, in partnership with our colleagues at NSW Fair Trading, Revenue NSW, AusIndustry and Legal Aid NSW. Thank you to the community members that came along to learn about their consumer rights, and receive our Scamwatch, Australian Consumer Law and Sleep Bub Safe resources. 

We’ve commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Court against City Beach for allegedly supplying products containing button batteries which did not comply with mandatory product safety and information standards, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.   “Australia’s button battery standards exist to reduce the risk of death or serious injury posed by button batteries. Many of these items were brightly coloured or had light-up features or both, meaning young children may be drawn to playing with them. We urge consumers to check the Product Safety Australia website for details of the recalled products and return them to the supplier or to dispose of them safely,” - ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe.   We are seeking penalties, declarations, injunctive relief and costs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g968BCzf

Don’t forget – the new Franchising Code of Conduct is officially in effect.   We’ve prepared guidance to help franchisors understand the changes under the new code and when they apply: https://lnkd.in/ggnQM2cG

We're proposing to allow the Australian Banking Association's member banks to continue to agree on minimum and special features for low or no fee, basic bank accounts, and suspending default interest for farmers impacted by drought or natural disasters. We're proposing a number of conditions of authorisation.   Interested parties can make submissions by 18 April 2025. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gQpfyw9k

We take consumer paw-tection seriously 🐶 With our very own watchdogs from around the agency on paw-trol, we’re stepping up our efforts to protect Aussie dogs from breaches of consumer law. 

With the announcement of the 2025 election, we are now in caretaker mode until a new government is sworn in.   This means that we can't share, respond to, or allow any political content to be posted on our pages. We will be closely monitoring comments on our social media accounts to comply with this. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqzwWvhy

Mark your calendars! 📅   The 2025 ACCC and Australian Energy Regulator Conference will be held on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 August.   This year's conference will be an in-person only event, to be held at the W Hotel in Brisbane.   We'll publish the latest information, including the theme of the Conference, speakers and sessions, on our website as we approach the date: https://lnkd.in/gtJaXQBA

We've granted authorisation to Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways to allow them to engage in cooperative conduct under an integrated alliance. Swipe to find out more.   “We consider that the conduct is likely to result in public benefits such as adding additional capacity on flights between Australia and the Middle East and is likely to result in minimal, if any, public detriment,” - ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEMzS29g

With the latest Hunger Games prequel hitting the shelves, let's talk competition.   A healthy and competitive market means individual businesses must find ways to innovate and work more efficiently, leading to lower prices, better quality products and services, and more choice for consumers. Visit our website for more about how we work to protect and promote competition in markets, and your competition law obligations as a business: https://lnkd.in/gGWegf7i

We’re seeking feedback on our new merger process guidelines: https://lnkd.in/gXCEc_fT   We’ve also published a simple and quick guide for businesses and others less familiar with engaging with the ACCC on mergers: https://lnkd.in/g8UrfiAe. Together, the guidance will assist businesses, advisers, and other stakeholders to understand and engage with Australia’s new merger control regime.   We're inviting submissions on the guidance by 28 April 2025: https://lnkd.in/g2vFaNPE