March
New Zealand eyes breaking its supermarket duopoly
The local unit of Woolworths and Foodstuffs New Zealand have a stranglehold on the grocery sector, which has been blamed for high prices.
Is a non-compete clause for your hairdresser overkill?
Barney Martin sold his salon partly because staff kept going freelance. But stylists told a Treasury-commissioned study they shouldn’t have to leave their loyal clients behind.
Supermarket inquiry ends not with a bang but a whimper
Instead of wagging fingers at the big chains for the economic challenges, politicians must get serious about tackling some of the underlying causes of inflation.
Woolworths, Coles warn more red tape means higher grocery prices
Disputing the ACCC’s findings that they have oversized profitability, the supermarket giants say increased costs will be passed onto shoppers.
Why Aussie consumers are losing the supermarket wars
While there is no silver bullet, the ACCC has some recommendations to improve competition in the sector.
Woolworths, Coles among world’s most profitable supermarkets: ACCC
But the regulator, after a year-long investigation, concedes little can be done about their market dominance.
We taught Macquarie how to do mortgages: ING boss
The Dutch giant wants to chase its copy-cat in mortgages and business lending, in another indication of the red-hot competition the big four banks face.
The 210pc insurance tax you didn’t know you were paying
No other tax has such a large economic welfare loss. Despite the Henry Tax Review wanting them scrapped, taxes on insurance premiums continue to distort the market.
Dutton rekindles threat to forcibly break-up insurers
The opposition leader has moved to clear up internal confusion, if not division.
‘Too small to fail’: Small banks push for subsidies
Customer-owned banks have told the Council of Financial Regulators they may need credit rating support, debt guarantees and government subsidies to survive.
February
US judge throws out Aussie start-up’s Google antitrust case
Unlockd founder Matt Berriman has been pursuing Google in US courts for four years over its role in his start-up’s collapse.
Cass-Gottlieb fires warning shot at big telco, energy players
The competition watchdog will keep a sharp eye on the retail sector, but also other essential services such as telecommunications and energy.
January
Banks pick fight with RBA over wholesale payment fees
The central bank is considering stricter caps on “interchange fees” in its review of payment costs. Worth $2.1 billion annually, squeezing this could hurt competition.
PepsiCo accused of ‘rigging’ the soft-drink market
The US Federal Trade Commission sued the beverage maker, alleging illegal price discrimination by giving unfair price advantages to one retailer.
December 2024
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.
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.
What’s next for Google’s search monopoly?
Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling could cause enormous ripple effects, potentially reshaping the internet.
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.
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.
November 2024
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.