In his annual speech to the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) speech, ACCC Chair Rod Sims set out the ACCC enforcement priorities for 2020.

The ACCC has not opposed the proposed acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks by China Mengniu Dairy Company.

The ACCC has announced it will “not oppose the proposed acquisition of Direct Paper by Spicers Limited, finding that alternative suppliers of commercial printing paper and direct supply arrangements between printers and paper mills will continue to provide strong competition and constrain paper prices.“

Callum Henderson has posted a useful case note on the Federal Court’s Vodafone TPG decision.

The latest compilation of the Competition and Consumer Act (Compilation 124) is now available; compiled 3 Feb and registered 18 Feb including amendments to Act No 120, 2019 (Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Measures No 2) Act 2019).

The ACCC has issued a Statement of Issues outlining preliminary concerns that Bunning's’ proposed acquisition of Adelaide Tools and Oaklands Mower Centre may lessen competition ‘in the market for tools and outdoor power equipment in Adelaide’.

The Federal Court has declared that the proposed merger between TPG and Vodafone would not substantially lessen competition.

The Government has directed the ACCC to conduct an inquiry into ‘markets for the supply of digital advertising technology services and digital advertising agency services.‘

An interim report is due by 31 December 2020 and final report due 31 August 2021. An issues paper will be published by the ACCC in March.

The Government has directed the ACCC to conduct an inquiry into markets for the supply of digital platform services. An interim report is due by 30 September 2020 and then every 6 months until a final report is provided by 31 March 2025.

The ACCC has made the Competition and Consumer (Consumer Data Right) Rules which come into operation tomorrow. The rules require banks to ‘share product reference data with accredited data recipients’ and give ‘legislative force to consumer data sharing obligations in banking’ which become mandatory on 1 July 2020.

The ACCC has completed its investigation into completed Barro-Adelaide Brighton acquisition. The investigation looked at the overlap in the market in relation to the ‘supply of cement, pre-mixed concrete and aggregates’ and found that Barra and Adelaide Brighton will ‘continue to face competition’ such that the merger would not substantially lessen competition.

Gumtree AU Pty Ltd has sought authorisation from the ACCC for its proposed acquisition of Cox Australia Media Solutions Pty Ltd. Gumtree operates a classified advertisement platform which includes car sales; Cox Australia operates dedicated car sale (and related) platforms (CarsGuide.com.au and Autotrader.com.au).