This Month
- Exclusive
- Energy security
Energy grid’s power imbalance could blow out bills, AER warns
In a review to be released on Friday, the energy regulator also said the government should consider the need to diversify ownership as it underwrote projects.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Bunnings hits back over market share claims
The Wesfarmers-owned retailer says assertions that it controls 70 per cent of plant sales in Australia are wrong.
- Tom McIlroy
What’s next for Google’s search monopoly?
Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling could cause enormous ripple effects, potentially reshaping the internet.
- David McCabe and Nico Grant
- Opinion
- Technology & democracy
Break up big tech to save competition, democracy and the climate
To save the European Green Deal and restore economic competitiveness, the EU’s new antitrust push must rein in these companies’ enormous power.
- Cori Crider
Labor targets Meta, Apple, Amazon and Google with tough new rules
Global tech giants face tough new rules and hefty fines as the government moves to stop digital giants unfairly pushing their own products onto consumers.
- Tom McIlroy and Michael Read
November
- Exclusive
- AFR Magazine
Three sliding-doors moments defined ACCC boss Gina Cass-Gottlieb’s life
When Gina Cass-Gottlieb was hired, some said she was too close to big business. She’s instead proven to be a godsend for the federal government.
- Ronald Mizen
US regulators seek to break up Google, force Chrome sale
The US government wants to break up the tech behemoth and make it sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser, to stop an abusive monopoly.
- Michael Liedtke
APRA warned Cuscal on risk settings ahead of IPO
The payments company, set to list on the ASX next week, is working with the regulator to improve compliance systems after an external review disclosed in its prospectus.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
ACCC takes on Woolworths boss in rare intervention
The supermarket giant appeared at a public hearing on Monday as the regulator investigated the market power of it and its biggest rival, Coles.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Hilmer reforms of 1990s helped lift productivity. We can do it again
Fred Hilmer’s reforms were groundbreaking because a series of small changes had a massive cumulative effect. With changes to competition policy, we could lift Australia’s GDP by up to $45 billion a year.
- Danielle Wood and Alex Robson
Supermarkets face earnings crunch if loyalty schemes are dismantled
Macquarie warns of a drag on the performance of Coles and Woolworths if the competition watchdog disrupts their customer retention programs.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Exclusive
- Infrastructure Summit
One business is paying $7.4m in Sydney road tolls
Data compiled by the NSW government shows the high cost of tolls for companies as the state pushes ahead with new laws to monitor the prices motorists are being charged.
- Jenny Wiggins
October
- Exclusive
- Mergers & acquisitions
ACCC to target liquor, pathology, cancer clinics in merger crackdown
The bulk of private equity transactions in Australia will also receive greater scrutiny due to ACCC worries serial acquisitions and roll-ups are flying under the radar.
- Ronald Mizen
Europe likens probe into cheap tomato exports to Beijing trade wars
Australian officials have this month begun an inquiry into whether Italian groups are dumping products sold as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi home brands.
- Simon Evans
- Opinion
- Opinion
After half a century, a new era of competition law begins
Fifty years of the Trades Practices Act should be celebrated by adapting to changing times, with competitive and efficient markets in front of mind.
- Gina Cass-Gottlieb
AMP eyes February for long-planned expansion into business banking
The company, which already has a major mortgage loan book, will target start-ups and sole traders as it attempts to find higher margins.
- James Eyers
Suppliers, pollies reject supermarket bid to shift blame
Both major parties have hit back at Coles and Woolworths while suppliers say shoppers are only paying a fraction of cost rises.
- Ronald Mizen and Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Howard Marks, Taylor Swift and why investors should fear populism
Wall Street legend Howard Marks says populist government intervention is on the rise, and big companies are often the enemy. But investors remain convinced size matters.
- Updated
- James Thomson
Coles chief Leah Weckert says its promotions are genuine
The retail giant expects more shoppers to stay home at Christmas as they face stretched budgets, and says it is working on keeping its products affordable.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Private markets scrutiny at odds with ‘faster, targeted’ mergers
Changes to merger laws aimed at giving the ACCC power to scrutinise share purchases that don’t result in outright ownership have raised concerns among competition lawyers.
- Ronald Mizen