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Competition

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Non-compete clauses are weighing down the economy.

The fine print costing Australians a pay rise

It’s a clause in job contracts costing one in five Australians. Here’s why banning it is a boon to more than just our salaries.

  • Millie Muroi

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COSBOA CEO Luke Achterstraat.

‘Feeling targeted’: Hairdressers are fighting to keep this fine print in staff contracts

Small business advocates and corporate heavyweights are railing against the Albanese government’s proposed ban on non-compete clauses.

  • Jessica Yun and Shane Wright
Profits taking off: Qantas Airways.

Qantas, Virgin oppose ‘pay on delay’ for customers

Qantas’ domestic CEO told an inquiry into passenger rights that a compo scheme does “not deliver better outcomes for consumers”, as the Coalition’s Bridget McKenzie cited the airline’s “explicit breach of consumer trust”.

  • Chris Zappone
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I’m training for a marathon. It’s about as fun (and pain-free) as fixing the economy

I never understood how runners got so into their sport. But it might be key to getting the economy into the fast lane.

  • Millie Muroi
A Choice survey found that a basket of 14 grocery items was 25 per cent cheaper at Aldi over rivals – but no everyone agrees with its findings.

‘Real concerns’: Supermarket giants still in the watchdog’s crosshairs

Supermarkets, telcos, online influencers and excessive credit card surcharges will all come under scrutiny from the powerful competition regulator in 2025-26.

  • Clancy Yeates
Apple’s App Store is the only way to download new apps in Australia, and a percentage of anything you pay to developers and service-providers goes to Apple.

Will new competition laws make your digital life cheaper?

An EU-style regime aims to stop big tech locking down their platforms. But we are still a long way from making smartphones a truly open ecosystem, like home computers.

  • Tim Biggs
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Apple’s app store and similar stores will be targeted by the government’s overhaul of competition law.

Tech giants face $50 million fines in app store battle

Just days after banning under 16s from social media, the federal government is now targeting tech companies’ app stores amid competition fears.

  • Shane Wright
Law firms Phi Finney McDonald and Maurice Blackburn this week separately announced proposed class actions against Google.

‘Egregious’: Google facing two Australian class actions

The tech giant allegedly took billions in revenue that should have gone to Australian publishers, law firms claim.

  • David Swan
Trying to avoid antitrust suits, Google systematically told employees to destroy messages, avoid certain words and copy in the lawyers as often as possible.

‘What happens in Vegas’: How Google spent 15 years creating a culture of concealment

As the internet giant stored the world’s information, it created an office culture that tried to minimise its legal footprint, telling employees to destroy messages and copy in the lawyers as often as possible.

  • David Streitfeld
Multinational tech firms are being targeted by a swathe of new laws.

Big Tech didn’t like Biden. Trump won’t be any better for Google & Co

The Biden administration has used antitrust legislation to target the technology giants, even seeking to break up Google. Trump’s nominees to key posts overseeing the tech sector won’t be much friendlier.

  • Stephen Bartholomeusz

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/competition-policy-5vz