3 minute read
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is an independent Commonwealth statutory authority whose role is to enforce the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and a range of additional legislation, promoting competition, fair trading and regulating national infrastructure for the benefit of all Australians.
Competitive, informed and (when necessary) well-regulated markets lead to lower prices, better quality products and services, and more choice. This increases the prosperity and welfare of all Australians.
The ACCC focus on taking action that most promotes the proper functioning of Australian markets, protects competition, improves consumer welfare and stops conduct that is anti-competitive or harmful to consumers.
The ACCC employs the following strategies to achieve their purpose: - Maintaining and promoting competition - Protecting the interests and safety of consumers, and supporting fair trading in markets affecting consumers and small business - Promoting the economically efficient operation of, use of, and investment in infrastructure, and identifying market failure - Undertaking market studies and inquiries to support competition, consumer and regulatory outcomes.
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is Australia's national energy market regulator and has an independent board. The AER shares staff, resources and facilities with the ACCC.
What kind of work?
The ACCC has a Chair, two Deputy Chairs and three Commissioners. The ACCC has seven sub-committees which are each chaired by one of the three Commissioners and additionally comprise of full-time members and associate members with expertise on particular matters.
The seven subcommittes and the work they involve are: 1. Enforcement Commitee - makes recommendations as to the ACCC's enforcement program to ensure compliance with and enforcement of the Competition and Consumer Act 2020 (Cth) 2. Mergers Review Committee - decides if mergers and acquisitions are likely to substantially lessen competition 3. Communications Committee - considers regulatory and competition issues arising from the communications sector 4. Infrastructure Committee - oversees access, price monitoring, transport and water regulatory issues 5. Adjudication Committee - considers applications for authorisation; significant notifications of exclusive dealing and collective bargaining conduct, and significant certification trademarks applications 6. Consumer Data Right Committee - oversees the ACCC’s role in the implementation of the Government’s consumer data right policy, including the development of rules and approval of standards and recommendations regarding designation of future sectors 7. Compliance and Product Safety Committee - sets the policy and strategic direction for the ACCC’s contacts, Compliance and Product Safety functions; makes decisions about policy recommendations, law reform proposals and the exercise of relevant statutory powers and functions; and oversees the strategic compliance and education functions that relate to consumer, small business and product safety programs."
Student Opportunities
The ACCC and AER provide opportunities for final-year university students to undertake paid summer internships for up to six weeks. The ACCC seeks applicants studying in the following fields: law, economics, finance, business, commerce, arts, science, engineering, communications, media, marketing, data.
You can find more information here: https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/employment-careers/intern-opportunities
Applications open each year in September.
Graduate Opportunities
The ACCC/AER run a graduate program. Work as a graduate includes: - Analysing key market sectors assisting in assessing applications for collective bargaining, authorisations and notifications - The economic regulation of network infrastructure - Investigating complaints from business or consumers about possible breaches of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
Graduates may be involved in: - Consumer liaison activities - Product safety surveys - Compliance research or - A wide range of activities in our Corporate Division.
Applications open each year in March.
You can find more information here: https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/employment-careers/graduate-opportunities
Fun Fact / Recent Project
Collective bargaining The ACCC has the authority to authorise collective bargaining for businesses. In Sepetmber 2020 the ACCC granted authorisation to enable the National Lotteries and Newsagents Association (NLNA) to collectively bargain on behalf of its current and future members with Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (Tabcorp). The ACCC considered that the Proposed Conduct is likely to result in public benefits by providing NLNA members with improved opportunity for input into contracts and some small transaction cost savings relative to a situation where its members negotiate individually with Tabcorp.
Authorisation provides legal protection to participate in collective bargaining that may otherwise breach competition laws because it involves joint action by competitors.
