The ACCC has announced its 2021 enforcement and compliance priorities.

The ACCC has released a Statement of Issues in relation to Aon plc’s proposed merger with Willis Towers Watson plc (WTW)

The Senate Economics Legislation Committee has recommended passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2020.

The ACCC had preliminary concerns about MYOB’s proposed acquisition of GreatSoft

The annual Bannerman Competition Lecture was held ‘virtually’ last night, delivered by the CMA’s Chief Executive, Andrea Coscelli.

Stephen King, ‘Our corporate cops allowed Facebook to grow big by worrying about the wrong thing’ (The Conversation, 9 February 2021)

On 18 June 2020 Wilhelmsen Ocean AS (WWO) pleased guilty to criminal cartel conduct. It has now been convicted and ordered by the Federal Court to pay a fine of $24 million.

The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to Vintage Energy Ltd, Metgasco Ltd and Bridgeport Pty Ltd to enter into joint marketing arrangements.

The ACCC’s Digital Advertising Services Inquiry Interim Report was released today.

Tim Dwyer, ‘Is news worth a lot or a little? Google and Facebook want to have it both ways’ (The Conversation, 25 January 2021)

Google has completed its acquisition of Fitbit. This comes while the ACCC was still conducting an informal review. The ACCC had previously released a statement of issues and rejected a proposed undertaking. The matter has become an enforcement investigation for the ACCC.

Stephan Brook and Nick Bonyhady, ‘Google admits to removing local news content in 'experiment'‘ (SMH, 13 January 2021)

The AFR has some items today on the year ahead for big tech

Jason Ellis, former general manager of sales and marketing at BlueScope Steel Limited, has been sentenced to eight months imprisonment for inciting the obstruction of an ACCC cartel investigation.

The ACCC has identified preliminary competition concerns over Woolworth’s proposed acquisition of a 65% share of PFD Food Services.

The Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2020 was introduced into the House of Representatives on 9 December 2020.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has announced that Anna Brakey and Peter Crone will join the ACCC as Commissioners this month, both for five year periods.

ANZ, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and six senior banking executives were today committed to the Federal Court of Australia for trail on criminal cartel charges.

The High Court has dismissed the ACCC’s application for special leave to appeal from the Full Federal Court’s decision that the PN acquisition of the Acacia Ridge terminal would not be likely to substantially lessen competition.

The ACCC’s application for Special Leave in the Pacific National merger case will be head today before the Full Court of the High Court at 10:30am.