The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s priorities for this year include cracking down on misleading and deceptive practices, anti-competitive conduct and unfair contract terms affecting small businesses.
ACCC Chair Rod Sims launched the ACCC’s 2017 compliance and enforcement policy in Sydney during the Committee for Economic Development of Australia’s Update event last week.
He said unfair contract terms, cartels, and misconduct in the health, construction and agriculture sectors would be among the ACCC’s compliance priorities.
“Education plays an important role in compliance, but sometimes we need to send a stronger message to businesses,” Mr Sims said. “Court action not only helps to sharpen businesses’ focus on what is and isn’t acceptable under the law, but acts as a deterrent to others that may be tempted in a race to the bottom.”
He added that the health and energy sectors would be particular areas of enforcement focus for the ACCC this year.