#Graeme Samuel
Sydney Airport ripping off travellers with ‘monopoly pricing’?
Sydney and Melbourne Airports have raised the ire of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for the possibility of charging excessively high prices due to their monopoly status as international airports in each state.
Power Balance wristbands have ‘no scientific basis’ – refunds ordered by ACCC
Power Balance wristbands and pendants have ‘no credible scientific basis’ and have been removed for sale by Power Balance Australia after Australian Competition and Consumer Commission intervention.
David Lawrence, Jigsaw and Marcs fined $19,800 for dodgy refund policies
M Webster Holdings Pty Ltd, trading as David Lawrence, Jigsaw and Marcs, has paid three Infringement Notices totalling $19,800 to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission following an investigation into Webster’s refund policies.
Virgin Blue – Etihad given draft approval by ACCC after Air New Zealand deal
Virgin Blue looks likely to be given approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on a code sharing agreement with Middle East airline Etihad, with draft approval given by ACCC the same day the competition regulator approved Virgin Blue’s alliance with Air New Zealand.
Virgin Blue – Air New Zealand alliance gets go ahead
Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand have been given conditional authorisation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to create an alliance on flights between Australia and New Zealand.
Former cafe owner fined $20,000 for illegal holiday surcharges on menu
The ACCC continues to crack down on ‘illegal holiday surcharges’ on menus, with a cafe owner ordered to pay a penalty of $20,000 by the Federal Court for failing to provide ‘all inclusive pricing’ on their menus.
Metcash (IGA) welcomes ACCC court action opposing Franklins buyout
Metcash, owner of IGA supermarkets and Australia’s largest independent grocery and liquor wholesaler, welcomes Federal Court action by the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission opposing Metcash’s plans to acquire the Franklins supermarket chain for $215 million.
Restaurant owners fined $13,200 for illegal holiday surcharges
Restaurants charging illegal holiday surcharges have been ordered to pay a penalty of $13,200 each for breaching the all-inclusive pricing lay on their menus by the Federal Court.
DFO founders demand inquiry into ACCC’s Graeme Samuel
Direct Factory Outlet founders David Wieland and David Goldberger are demanding an inquiry into ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel, The Australian reports.
DFO owner Austexx set to sell four malls to CFS Retail
DFO’s Austexx is set to sell four of its nine DFO shopping malls to CFS Retail Property Trust as CFS seeks to raise $500 million in capital to complete the transaction, according to reports from people close to the matter in Bloomberg.
Virgin Blue-Etihad alliance gains interim approval despite Qantas’ objections
Virgin Blue’s alliance with Etihad to code share on flights between Australia and the Middle East has received interim approval by the ACCC despite objections from rival Qantas.
Qantas accused of hiding behind ACCC on Virgin Blue-Etihad deal
Virgin Blue has accused Qantas of hiding behind Australia’s competition regulator the ACCC in its submissions to the regulator opposing Virgin Blue’s proposed deal with Etihad.
DFO stores to be sold to repay $1 billion owed to banks
Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) will be split up store by store and sold off to repay almost $1 billion owed to banks after development of the DFO South Wharf outlet stalled when cash dried up.
Seal-A-Fridge franchisor’s behavior ‘unconscionable’
Franchisor Seal-A-Fridge Pty Ltd has been found to have engaged in unconscionable conduct towards its franchisees the Federal Court, Brisbane has found.
ACCC takes Optus to court over false “unlimited” claims
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted legal proceedings in the Federal Court, Melbourne against Singtel Optus Pty Ltd for alleged contraventions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in relation to the use of the word “unlimited”.
Australia Post postage stamps to 60 cents – ACCC says ‘OK’
Australia Post will increase the costs of postage stamps to 60 cents, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) not objecting to the increase.
Telstra’s price increases rejected by competition tribunal
Telstra has had their request to increase costs for access to the telco’s copper fixed line network rejected by the Australian Competition Tribunal.
ACCC applauds eBay PayPal rule changes
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission welcomes the announcement by eBay that it will change the ebay.com.au website and payment policies to remove the requirement that sellers offer PayPal as a payment option.
ACCC gets new Australian Consumer Law powers
The ACCC has been equipped with greater powers to protect consumers from unscrupulous businesses, with first part of the Australian Consumer Law coming into effect today.
Australia Post wants 60c stamps : ACCC concerned
Australia Post has proposed an increase in the basic postage rate from 55 to 60 cents as well as increases in costs for its other services, with the ACCC reviewing the proposal.