The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has
released its
compliance and enforcement policy for 2017, which identifies a
number of new priorities. Under the policy, the Commission will
take a hard line approach against larger companies and individuals
that have contravened the competition and consumer law. It will
seek higher penalties from those that have breached the law, likely
leading to fewer agreed settlements in the future.
Anti-competitive conduct
The Commission has an active agenda on the competition front
this year. It will be dedicating additional resources to
investigating cases of substantial lessening of competition. The
Commission will also focus on price parity obligations that lead to
reduced price competition and has reaffirmed its commitment to
prosecuting and harshly penalising criminal cartel conduct.
