ACCC

Personal healthcare giant PZ Cussons has lost its bid for indemnity costs against the ACCC, after claiming that the regulator was "doomed to fail" when it appealed a judgment dismissing its case over an alleged laundry detergent cartel.

The ACCC has come up short in its appeal of a ruling that dismissed its challenge to Pacific National $205 million acquisition of Aurizon's Acacia Ridge Terminal in Queensland, with the Full Federal Court also releasing Pacific National from an undertaking given to the court.

Facing the threat of regulatory action and a possible class action, Flight Centre will refund thousands of customers who were charged a $300 fee for cancelling travel plans because of government restrictions to combat the coronavirus.

Bob Jane will give franchisees at least six months' notice before terminating their agreements, after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the tyre retail chain was likely flouting the law by failing to do so.

Allowing Google's planned $3 billion acquisition of fitness device company Fitbit to go through would give the search giant "unprecedented" access to sensitive personal data and would substantially lessen competition in several markets, a privacy rights group has told the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

A settlement between the ACCC and STA Travel has resulted in a penalty of $14 million after the court found the travel agency misled consumers about their ability to change flight dates and other travel details.

Digital giants Google and Facebook will be required to pay for news content under a new mandatory code being developed by the Government to create a ‘level playing field’ in the Australian media industry, which is facing a sharp decline in advertising revenue driven by the coronavirus.

Personal healthcare giant PZ Cussons is seeking indemnity costs from the ACCC, claiming the regulator unreasonably rejected a settlement offer in its case over an alleged laundry detergent cartel.

Barristers for the ACCC and online retailer Kogan have been asked to robe up at home as the previously in-person trial shifts to videochat in response to the COVID-19 health crisis.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has found Bunnings' $30 million takeover of Adelaide Tools and Oaklands Mower Centre would not substantially lessen competition, but warned it would closely scrutinise future moves that would further cement the hardware giant's dominant position.