The competition watchdog the ACCC has started civil cartel proceedings in the Federal Court against two companies - Spotless Facility Services Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Downer EDI Limited - ASX: DOW) and Ventia Australia Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Ventia Services Group Limited ASX: VNT) - and four senior executives, for alleged price fixing relating to estate maintenance and operation services for the Department of Defence (Defence).

With the passing of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024 by the Australian Parliament yesterday, the competition watchdog, the ACCC says it is intensifying its focus to ensure that implementation of the new merger regime is successful when it commences.

New Zealand state-owned bank and financial services provider Kiwibank has been fined $1.5million after pleading guilty to systemic and long-running breaches of the Fair Trading Act that led to 35,000 customers being overcharged a total amount of $6.8 million.

The administrator of the .au domain name system (DNS), auDA has launched of its new website, providing an “enhanced user experience” and helping users find the information they need about .au and auDA with ease.

Unsolicited communications – such as commercial email and SMS spam, scams and telemarketing – are a problem for many Australians and the communication and media services regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) , has just announced its two compliance priorities for the 2024–25 financial year for those unsolicited communications and scams.

New research finds Government ICT procurement policy must be urgently reformed, as Australia has fallen out of step with international practice when it comes to supporting local industry.

The competition watchdog, the ACCC, has published a consultation paper on the development of a record keeping rule for non-NBN superfast broadband providers regarding service quality and network performance.

Eagle M.A.N Group Limited - trading as Eagle MAN - has been ordered to pay a pecuniary penalty of $200,000 in the Christchurch High Court for providing high-cost loans which breached multiple aspects of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) in the New Zealand competition regulator The Commerce Commission’s first case enforcing rules applying to high-cost lenders.

The peak national body representing Australia’s mobile telecommunications industry, the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has welcomed the release of draft reforms to the Commonwealth telecommunications powers and immunities framework for a period of community consultation.

Framework to support tech companies to improve equity, diversity and inclusion practices

The Tech Council of Australia (TCA), in partnership with Project F, has unveiled a new set of standards to improve diversity in the tech sector as the country aims to find another 600,000 tech workers over the next five years.