Competition and Consumer Law Round-Up

What's Inside This Issue?

This edition of the K&L Gates Competition & Consumer Law Round-Up provides a summary of recent and significant updates from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), as well as other noteworthy developments in the competition and consumer law space. If you wish to have any more detail about the issues outlined in this newsletter or discuss them further, please reach out to any member of the K&L Gates Competition and Consumer Law team.

Enforcement

• Australian Government Grants an Additional AU$67.7 Million to the ACCC Over a Four-Year Period to Strengthen Competition and Consumer Law Enforcement Capabilities
• Coles Found by the Federal Court to Have Misled Consumers in its "Down Down" Promotions
• AU$15 Million Penalty Ordered Against Emma Sleep for Misleading Statements About Sale Prices

Mergers and Acquisitions

• ACCC Requires Two More Merger Notifications to Proceed to Phase 2 Review (MicroStar - Konvoy and Insurance Australia Group - RAC Insurance)

Notifications and Authorisations

• ACCC Proposes Not to Authorise Screen Producers Australia to Negotiate With Broadcasters and Streaming Platforms
• ACCC Proposes to Grant Authorisation for Australian Hotels Association Members to Engage in Collective Bargaining

Noteworthy Developments

• Heightened ACCC Attention on Compliance With Consumer Guarantee Rights in the Electronics and Whitegoods Sector
• ACCC Granted Leave by the Federal Court to Intervene in the Epic Games, Inc v Apple Inc Proceedings
• Streamlined Competition Exemption Powers for Emergencies and Exceptional Circumstances, Alongside Increased Penalties in the Petroleum Marketing Industry

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