Clifford Chance

Government response to Harper Review

4 January 2016

The Government on 24 November 2015 released its response to the Competition Policy Review chaired by Professor Ian Harper (Harper Review). The Harper Review had reportedly been sidelined by the Abbott government, however, following the Liberal party leadership change in September, 2015 the new Turnbull government accepted many of the Harper Review's recommendations, supporting 39 in full, 5 in part and remains open to the remaining 12 recommendations. On 11 December 2015, the Treasurer released a discussion paper on section 46, the misuse of market power provision. The discussion paper is aimed to encourage debate on the Harper Review proposal to strengthen the provision.  Submissions on the discussion paper close on 12 February 2016.

This alerter considers the key recommendations in relation to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (CCA) accepted by the Government.

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