Competition Archives - SmartCompany

COSBOA gains power to fast-track SME complaints to ACCC in new system

David Adams — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:46:53 +0000

Australia's competition watchdog will fast-track major complaints from small businesses, after industry lobby COSBOA was inducted into its all-new warning system.

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Indie supermarket pricing to face new scrutiny as survey shows Woolies, Coles pricier than Aldi

David Adams — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 02:32:19 +0000

Prices at IGA supermarkets will come under closer scrutiny in future taxpayer-funded research, Competition Minister Andrew Leigh says, after a new report on prices at Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi considered just four independent grocers.

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Chemist Warehouse and Sigma deal shows why pharmacies need their own ‘Uber’ moment

Peter Martin — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 23:58:12 +0000

If you don’t see that many Chemist Warehouse stores as you walk around each day, and you see even fewer Sigma, that could be because of the different storefront names they use, such as MyChemist, Amcal, Discount Drug Store and PharmaSave.

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Explainer: What small businesses need to know about ACCC merger reforms

David Adams — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 01:15:11 +0000

Businesses planning a merger will need to seek Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approval under a new mandatory scheme.

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Loyalty programs should encourage competition. The reality may be the opposite

Alexandru Nichifor — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:23:58 +0000

Loyalty programs enable firms to offer significantly lower prices to some of their customers. You’d think this would encourage strong competition. But that isn’t always what actually happens.

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Woolies wants food and grocery code extended to Bunnings, Amazon and Costco

David Adams — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 01:05:34 +0000

Online retail giants Amazon, bulk goods store Costco, and hardware chains like Bunnings should be subject to a mandatory code of conduct, said Woolworths.

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Emerson: Shield SMEs from supermarket “retribution”, encourage $5 million compensation payouts

David Adams — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 01:52:24 +0000

An initial report by Dr Craig Emerson calls for the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct to be strengthened and made mandatory.

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Competition taskforce turns attention to non-compete clauses

David Adams — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 11:30:30 +0000

Businesses that level non-compete clauses on staff could be stifling the Australian economy, Competition Minister Andrew Leigh says, as the government's competition taskforce considers a crackdown on contract terms that limit worker mobility.

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Allan Fels: Courts should have the power to break up big businesses that behave badly

Allan Fels — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:37:58 +0000

Former ACCC chair professor Fels had also recommended such a power earlier this year in his report to the Australian Council of Trade Unions on price gouging and unfair pricing practices.

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SMEs invited to have their say on the ACCC’s new VIP competition complaint system

David Adams — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 23:00:11 +0000

Three business and consumer representative groups will have access to Australia's new and turbo-charged competition complaints system, according to a Treasury draft outlining the long-awaited scheme.

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