Submission to the Trade Practices Amendment (Material Lessening of Competition – Richmond Amendment) Bill 2009

04 February 2010

The BCA is strongly opposed to the Trade Practices Amendment (Material Lessening of Competition – Richmond Amendment) Bill 2009. We consider that the amendments to the existing merger control regime contained in the TPA are not warranted because:

  • No economic case has been demonstrated to justify such amendments.
  • The proposals have the potential to impose a significant impost on business and to have detrimental consequences for the Australian economy as a whole.
  • There is no net benefit to the community from amending the competition laws in the manner proposed.

Australia already has a well-established and internationally recognised mergers regime.

A key contributor to the continued success of the Australian economy is its effective competition laws. These laws should support vigorous competition as a means of driving productivity.

They should also support efficient markets and lower prices for consumers.

But productivity growth also requires incentives for businesses to restructure, invest and grow.

We are concerned that the Bill significantly undermines those objectives.

Submission to the Trade Practices Amendment (Material Lessening of Competition – Richmond Amendment) Bill 2009

Attachment 1: Submission to the Treasury on the ‘Creeping Acquisitions – The Way Forward’ Discussion Paper

Attachment 2: Submission to the Treasury ‘Creeping Acquisitions’ Discussion Paper

Attachment 3: Submission on the Trade Practices (Creeping Acquisitions) Amendment Bill 2007

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2010 Submissions

2010 Submissions

2010 Submissions