Former general manager of sales and marketing at BlueScope Steel Limited, Jason Ellis, has entered a guilty plea to ‘one charge of inciting the obstruction of Commonwealth public officials in the performance of their functions’.

Glencore has won its appeal over access charges to Port of Newcastle. The matter has been remitted to the Tribunal.

ACCC responds to Google open letter

ACCC: “statements or warnings regarding potential security or safety risks associated with screen scraping and sharing passwords … does not appear to have the purpose or effect of substantially lessening competition.”

The ACCC has launched an action against Google alleging misleading conduct in relation to the expanded use of personal data:

The criminal cartel case against banks and bankers continued from 20-24 July in the District Court in Penrith before Magistrate Giles, courtesy of a virtual courtroom.

The ACCC’s criminal cartel case against banks and investment bankers resumes later this month - this time in Penrith Local Court to facilitate social distancing.

The ACCC has outlined preliminary concerns with Google’s proposed acquisition of Fitbit. In particular, it has expressed concerns that ‘Google’s access to consumer health data may raise entry barriers, further entrench its dominant position and adversely affect competition in several digital advertising and health markets‘.

Andrew Eastwood has an item in today’s AFR discussing the future for regulatory enforcement in Australia.

Speaking to The Guardian, ACCC chair, Rod Sims, said he would welcome the continuation of the AAP in some form and that if there was a bidder the ACCC would be ‘watching to ensure there were no inappropriate impediments to sale’.

The ACCC has been unsuccessful in its attempt to stay Garuda’s appeal against a $19 million cartel penalty, despite its failure to pay the penalty.

‘The ACCC is seeking views to inform its work on developing a new draft mandatory code that will address bargaining power imbalances between Australia’s news media businesses and Google and Facebook.‘

The Government It has ordered the ACCC to stop working on the voluntary code and prepare a new mandatory code of conduct regime to address bargaining power imbalance between the big platforms and the media. It is to be developed for release and consultation in July and subsequent implementation. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said ahead of the announcement that it’s ‘only fair that those that generate content get paid for it’.

Clancy Yates has an opinion piece in today’s SMH discussing how anti-competitive action can help fight virus war.

TX Australia, a broadcast tower joint venture between Nine and Seven, has taken action against the ACCC alleging it does not have the authority to mediate an access dispute with Network 10.

The ACCC’s ad tech and ad agency services inquiry has commenced with the ACCC releasing an issues paper and seeking submissions from interested parties. Submissions are due by 21 April 2020.

Bannerman lecture delivered this evening by Isabelle de Silva, President, French Competition Authority, ahead of the ICN Merger Workshop later this week.

The Federal Court has declared that the proposed merger between TPG and Vodafone would not substantially lessen competition.

The Australian Government has released its much anticipated response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry.