The Federal Government's decision to implement a carbon
pricing regime comes with a warning attached: businesses seeking to
"gouge" customers when passing on the cost by making
misleading claims will be investigated and prosecuted by the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
(ACCC).
Earlier this week the Government announced it will fund the ACCC
with an additional $12.8 million over four years, directing it to
target this issue specifically by investigating businesses that
make false or misleading claims to customers about the impact of
the carbon price.
Misleading and deceptive conduct and false and misleading
representations are prohibited by the Australian Consumer Law
(ACL). The ACL, which came into full effect
earlier this year, introduced significant new investigatory powers
for the ACCC and substantially increased the penalties it can seek.
Corporations found to have made misleading carbon price claims
could be penalised up to $1.1 million, and
