Two recent cases highlight the problem of misleading advertising. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dismissed an appeal by POM Wonderful about health claims for their juice…
The ACCC has refused to relax its standards on what constitutes a free range egg.
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On November 2, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued an initial assessment knocking back a certified trademark application by the Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL). The…
Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has stepped up his criticism of proposed new media regulation.
AAP
Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull is overlooking critical issues of diversity and public interest in dismissing the need for further media regulation, say media experts. Mr Turnbull…
Will the Qantas-Emirates alliance restore the beleaguered Australian airline back to profitability?
AAP
Today, Alan Joyce has announced that Qantas and Emirates have struck a joint venture alliance for the next 10 years. As a result, Qantas will be taking its passengers to Europe through Dubai, instead of…
A new 16 minute anti-cartel film produced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission aims to breaks through widely-held business views around collusion.
Close scrutiny and tough sanctioning of cartel conduct (involving price fixing, market sharing, output reduction and bid rigging by competing businesses) has been a focus of competition law and enforcement…
The ACCC will be keeping a close eye on business that falsely attribute price rises to the introduction of the carbon tax.
AAP
In the lead-up to the introduction of the carbon tax on July 1, there has been considerable focus on the potential for price gouging – inflating prices beyond the cost increases reasonably attributable…
Australian media regulators would take an active interest in attempts by News Limited to increase its stake in Foxtel.
AAP
Problems facing media moguls Rupert and James Murdoch in the United Kingdom and the United States have yet to have an impact in Australia. But if recent speculation is true that News Limited might be a…
Graeme Samuel and Stephen King: two of Australia’s most senior regulators sit down together for The Conversation.
What happens when two of Australia’s best known former competition regulators sit down together and talk about the world? A wide-ranging discussion on the state of Australia’s political debate, xenophobia…
Are online dating sites preying on the vulnerable or do they foster love and relationships?
flickr/ZakVTA
Regulation of our intimate lives has always been a thorny issue. The anti-sodomy laws of the past and the same-sex marriage issue today illustrate times when policymakers can get it very, very wrong. Legislation…
The claim of “free to roam” is being challenged by the consumer regulator.
Christmas is coming, which means consumers are out looking for great deals to fill stockings and feed the family. And for retailers and manufacturers, the temptation to add “spin” to their marketing is…
By claiming too much, Steggles has raised the question: how much space does a chicken need?
aprilskiver
For the animal industry and the animal protection movement, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) pending case against poultry producer Steggles is set to be their very own version…
The ACCC has pledged to take more businesses to court over anti-competitive behaviour.
Hacklock
When the appointment of Rod Sims as chairman of the competition watchdog was announced earlier this year, there was disquiet among some competition lawyers. Would Sims, an economist, readily appreciate…
Malcolm Turnbull talks about Telstra’s structural separation, the ACCC and much more with Joshua Gans.
Supplied
Welcome to the latest in our In Conversation series, between Opposition Spokesman for Communications and Broadband, Malcolm Turnbull and economist, Professor Joshua Gans. This week, attention has again…
Compared to countries like France, Australia’s food is expensive - but why?
AAP
I am fortunate to have recently returned from a holiday in France. While there I couldn’t help noticing the much lower price of many foods. Croissants and brioches retail for around $1.35 (1 euro) or less…