The government's response to the Harper Review of competition policy: analysis

This week the Federal Government released its response to the Harper Review into Australian competition policy.  Around 80% of the review's 56 recommendations were accepted in full, part or principle, while the government declared that it had "noted" or was "open to" the remainder.  But a close reading of the response suggests that the government is very hot on some issues whilst being decidedly cool on others.

Over the next several weeks, I'll be posting analysis of key aspects of the government's response, setting out the links below so you can find them easily.  Given the breadth of the recommendations and the length of the government's response, there will be plenty of interesting developments in Australian competition policy over the next few years.  Be sure to stay tuned!

Analysis of the government's response

• The Australian Council for Competition Policy - establishment and likely role: see my article in The Conversation
• What's in it for small business? See my LinkedIn post
• Changes to merger clearance processes: see my LinkedIn post
• The effects test in section 46 (misuse of market power): see my LinkedIn post about the interpretation of the test by Australian courts (one for the lawyers) and subsequent posts specifically concerning refusals to deal and predatory pricing

If you’d like to discuss developments in Australian competition policy in more detail, please drop me a line: [email protected].  In the meantime, subscribe to The State of Competition for  detailed  analysis of Australian competition issues.