ACCC

An appeals court grilled counsel for the ACCC on the first day of a hearing challenging the dismissal of its case over a NSW government deal to privatise two ports, calling on the lawyer to spell out how the state was alleged to be in competition with the consortium that took over the ports.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has raised concerns about a proposed takeover of NSW-based pet drug maker Jurox by US animal health giant Zoetis.

In a victory for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, a judge has found that builder J Hutchinson entered into an anti-competitive agreement with the CFMEU to boycott an independent subcontractor at a construction site in Brisbane.

The CDPP's decision to drop all criminal cartel charges against two banks and four individuals in a "test case" over a $2.5 billion ANZ share placement shows the ACCC "lacks expertise and objectivity" on the financial markets and should leave them to ASIC to regulate, according to one of the former accused.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating claims by suppliers that government bodies have diverted supplies of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, as the regulator continues its crackdown on reported price gouging amid a test shortage.

The Australian Federal Police is cracking down on COVID-19 rapid antigen test price gouging, deploying a zero-tolerance strike team to investigate “outrageous” markups referred by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is working with the Australian Federal Police to combat price gouging over the sale of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.

The ACCC will seek a higher penalty against Employsure over misleading Google advertisements, after a judge found the consumer regulator's proposed $5 million penalty was inappropriate and instead ordered the specialist workplace relations consultancy to pay $1 million.

Energy retailer CovaU has been hit with $33,300 in penalties by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over its alleged failure to provide consumers with a percentage price comparison for its residential electricity plans.

Perth-based funeral services provider Bowra & O’Dea has paid $26,640 in penalties for allegedly failing to disclose certain unavoidable costs when advertising rates for its funeral and cremation services.