Category: ACCC

Doors Open for International Students as New South Wales Moves Forward With University Plan

New South Wales (NSW) will begin welcoming back international students from the second half of the year under a pilot program to help revitalise the academic industry. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) approved the state’s plan to bring back international students with priority to be given to students who need to complete practical or…


Australia Pledges $58.6M Towards New Gas Projects as Part of the Gas-Fired Recovery

Australia’s gas-fired recovery plan will see a further investment of $58.6 million (US$45.6 million), focusing on four main gas projects throughout Victoria. The investment will go towards several projects in the state, including two gas storage projects, the expansion of the South West Victorian pipeline, and a gas import terminal project. The funding is part…


PM Plans $10 Billion Insurance Premium Subsidy for Northern Australia

People in northern Australia will soon have cheaper property insurance as the federal government announced a subsidy plan for the region from next year. A reinsurance pool backed by a $10 billion government guarantee will be in place from July 1, 2022, to relieve the high premium cost burden on homes and businesses due to frequent…


Australian Regulator Eyes Apple, Google Marketplace for Harmful Market Practices

An Australian regulator has raised concerns over Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store, saying that the tech giants have disadvantaged competing app developers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released an interim report that identified several issues raised by app developers about the Google and Apple marketplace duopoly. “Apple and Google’s stores are the…


Google Found Guilty of Misleading Australian Customers on Data Collection

The Australian Federal Court has found Google guilty of misleading customers about personal location data collection on android mobile devices in a world-first enforcement action by the country’s consumer watchdog. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been pursuing legal action against Google’s “misleading conduct” since Oct. 2019. “This is an important victory for consumers,…


ACCC Calls for Comprehensive Overhaul of Murray-Darling Water Markets

An independent agency should be established to oversee trading activity in the water markets for the Murray-Darling Basin, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). It’s one of the 29 recommendations made by the consumer watchdog in its 700-page final report (pdf) of the Murray-Darling Basin water markets inquiry. Prime Minister Scott Morrison…


Australian Businesses Lose $14 Million to Cyber Scams: ACCC

The ACCC is reporting that Australian businesses have lost more than $14 million as a result of payment redirection scams, with the average losses in 2021 more than five times higher than average losses in the same period last year. The scams, also known as business email compromise scams, impersonate businesses or employees via email…


‘We Are Running Out of Time,’ Warns Regulator as Australia Faces Gas Shortfall

According to a new report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), gas supplies on Australia’s east coast and southern states are under threat. During a conference on March 24, ACCC chair Rod Sims brought to attention a looming gas crisis—which may affect close to 90 percent of Australians—and pointed out we are running out…


‘We Are Running Out of Time,’ Regulator Warns as Australia Faces Gas Shortfall

According to a new report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), gas supplies on Australia’s east coast and southern states are under threat. During a conference on March 24, ACCC chair Rod Sims brought to attention a looming gas crisis—which may affect close to 90 percent of Australians—and pointed out we are running out…


Fortnite’s Epic Games Extends Legal Battle With Google to Australia

Epic Games has extended its legal battle with Google to Australia, pursuing the tech giant over anti-competitive practices, after the developer’s hit game ‘Fortnite’ was removed from the store last year. Epic Games has previously sued both Google and Apple over alleged anti-competitive practices in the United States and Europe. It comes as the Australian regulator…