1Sitesh Bhojani, Barrister & Consultant
Sitesh Bhojani, Barrister & Consultant Sitesh Bhojani, Barrister & Consultant
(former ACCC Commissioner)(former ACCC Commissioner)
CUTS International &Vietnam Competition Administration
Department (VCAD), Ministry of Trade, Vietnam Present:
Creating A Competition Culture the Australian Experience with a National
Competition Policy
Hanoi, Vietnam – 16 & 17 August 2005
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NCP - Created by Council of Australian Governments CoAG
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National Competition PolicyNational Competition Policy
6 Elements6 Elements:: Universal application of Universal application of TPATPA Legislation ReviewLegislation Review Competitive NeutralityCompetitive Neutrality Access to Essential FacilitiesAccess to Essential Facilities Reform of Public Monopolies Reform of Public Monopolies Prices OversightPrices Oversight
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Overall Policy Objective - Overall Policy Objective - TPA s 2TPA s 2
“...to enhance the welfareof Australians through the promotion of competition and fair trading and provision for consumer protection”
AustraliaAustralia
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Promoting Competition - Part IIIA Promoting Competition - Part IIIA access to essential facilities and Part IV access to essential facilities and Part IV
prohibiting restrictive trade practicesprohibiting restrictive trade practices
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Ensuring fair trading and safeguarding Ensuring fair trading and safeguarding consumers - consumers - TPATPA
Part IVA; Part IVB; Part V & Part VAPart IVA; Part IVB; Part V & Part VA
7Sitesh Bhojani, Barrister & Consultant
Mechanisms to allow anti- Mechanisms to allow anti- competitive conduct (at risk of competitive conduct (at risk of
breaching Part IV) to continue with breaching Part IV) to continue with legal immunity - Part VII & Part IXlegal immunity - Part VII & Part IX
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TPA and the Education Sector – TPA and the Education Sector – TAFE Colleges and Price FixingTAFE Colleges and Price Fixing
ACCC v REIWA
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Action against University under TPAAction against University under TPA
Joseph v La Trobe University [2004] FCA 746
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Recent Notification under the Recent Notification under the TPATPA
James Cook University James Cook University – Nth Queensland– Nth Queensland
Lodged a Lodged a Notification for Notification for Exclusive Dealing Exclusive Dealing conductconduct
ACCC Decision ACCC Decision 30/04/2003 allowed 30/04/2003 allowed notification to standnotification to stand
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Recent Authorisation under the TPA
ACCC Determination
30 June 2003
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Legislation ReviewsLegislation Reviews
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Competitive Neutrality Competitive Neutrality The Level Playing Field?The Level Playing Field?
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International Consumer Protection International Consumer Protection issues - ICPEN; the ACCC; and the issues - ICPEN; the ACCC; and the
Trade Practices ActTrade Practices Act
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ICPEN Member Countries
Australia Austria Belgium Canada Czech Republic Denmark European Commission
Finland France Germany Greece Hungary
Portugal Slovak Republic Spain Sweden USASwitzerland UK
Ireland Italy J apan
Republic of Korea Latvia Luxembourg M alta M exico Netherlands
Poland
New Zealand Norway
Estonia
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ICPEN activities & initiatives…ICPEN activities & initiatives…
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ICPEN activities & initiatives…ICPEN activities & initiatives…Annual Internet Sweeps
WWW
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In Conclusion…In Conclusion…