Competition Watchdog May Get to Decide on All Mergers Under New Regime

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the current voluntary regime is ’too hit and miss’ and there’s no way of knowing if the right mergers are being scrutinised.
Competition Watchdog May Get to Decide on All Mergers Under New Regime
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers is seen at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on March 25, 2024. AAP Image/Lukas Coch
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Treasurer Jim Chalmers wants the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to examine every corporate merger under a new law which would make it mandatory for companies to report their intentions.

He says the voluntary scheme currently in place is too “hit and miss” as the ACCC only assesses about a quarter of all mergers, meaning there’s a high chance it could miss an anti-competitive combination.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
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