Australia

• Pages: 1-116

CHAPTER 2

AUSTRALIA

Australia-3

CONTENTS

A. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................ 9

1. Overview of Applicable Statutes ................................................................. 9

2. General Policies Underlying Competition Laws ....................................... 11

a. Introduction....................................................................................... 11

b. Principal Objectives .......................................................................... 11

(1) Public Benefit ........................................................................... 11

(2) Small Business ......................................................................... 12

(3) Efficient Allocation of Resources and Access to

Essential Facilities .................................................................... 13

(4) Foreign Competition and Exports ............................................ 14

c. Role of Economic Doctrines ............................................................. 15

(1) Use of Economic Analysis ....................................................... 15

(2) Approach to the Concept of Competition ................................. 18

(3) Market Definition ..................................................................... 19

(a) The Product Dimension ..................................................... 20

(b) The Geographic Dimension ............................................... 20

(c) The Functional Dimension ................................................ 21

(d) The Time Dimension ......................................................... 22

(e) The Role of Submarkets in Australian Cases .................... 22

3. Overview of Structure, Independence, and Jurisdiction of

Enforcement Agencies .............................................................................. 23

a. Introduction....................................................................................... 23

b. ACCC ............................................................................................... 23

(1) Jurisdiction and Relationships with Other Regulators ............. 23

(2) Administrative Roles and Powers ............................................ 25

(3) Structure ................................................................................... 26

c. NCC .................................................................................................. 27

4. Overview of Structure, Independence, and Jurisdiction

of Judicial Authorities ............................................................................... 27

a. The Australian Competition Tribunal ............................................... 27

b. Structure of Courts ............................................................................ 28

c. Constitutional Independence of the Judiciary ................................... 28

d. Appointment and Removal of Judges ............................................... 29

e. Deference of the Courts .................................................................... 29

5. Additional Policy and Practical Considerations ........................................ 29

B. SUBSTANTIVE LAW ............................................................................................ 30

1. Horizontal Agreements and Practices ....................................................... 30

a. Generally........................................................................................... 30

(1) The Meaning of Agreement ..................................................... 31

(2) Purpose ..................................................................................... 33

(3) Effect ........................................................................................ 34

(4) The Definition of Market ......................................................... 35

b. Price Fixing, Supply-Side Restrictions, Market Allocation,

and Bid Rigging ................................................................................ 36

(1) The Legislation ......................................................................... 36

(2) Criminal Sanctions ................................................................... 38