The ACCC has sent out a press release this morning to introduce “a caped calculator character called Unit Man.” He can’t fly or see through walls, but may save you cents — cents! — off laundry detergent.
ACCC
When is a cage egg green? When it plants trees
Some battery egg producers are giving their cartons a green sheen so dazzling, it threatens to blind consumers to the nature of their egg-laying process, writes Crikey intern Aaron Flanagan.
Telstra split paves way for better competition
The government’s plan for Telstra appears to require a form of divestiture, says Andrew Bartlett. It would be great to have better laws — forcing asset sales — wherever anti-competitive behaviour exists.
Conroy orders Telstra to do the splits
The government has again smashed Telstra’s monopolistic agenda with a raw display of executive power — announcing its intention to force the company to separate its wholesale and retail arms.
Housing: a giant experiment in moral hazard
However successful the Government has been at managing the short-term effects of the economic crisis, it has failed to use the last twelve months to drive significant reforms in the banking sector that will deliver long-term outcomes.
ACCC head warns News and Fairfax over cartel risk
Graeme Samuel has reminded newspaper companies of the need to abide by the Trade Practices Act after Fairfax chief executive Brian McCarthy touted the possibility of talks with News Ltd last week.
Emirates for court in ACCC robber airlines push
The great global air freight price fixing scandal caught up with another airline in Australia today when the ACCC said it was taking Emirates to court over alleged cartel like behaviour.
The Big Four banks are guilty of corporate crimes
The NAB fee backdown is small consolation to bank customers who have been victim to one of the greatest corporate thefts over the past decade.
The ACCC is failing to rein in the cartels
the ACCC operates an all care and no responsibility system of law enforcement, writes Sinclair Davidson. They should not simply be able to engage in trial by media and trial by fishing expeditions.
Political snippets: Good economic news not so good for the Opposition
The stock market has dragged itself upwards and today the minutes of the last Reserve Bank Board meeting are talking again about China perhaps being after all Australia’s economic saviour. Poor Malcolm.
Another day, another big deal for a struggling bank
Never mind what the big banks say, watch what they do.
Tips and rumours: Memo to lobbyists: update your details please
In today’s Crikey tips and rumours, a request for lobbyists to update their details and NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal tries to avoid “dirty dancing” incident.
Hypocrisy watch: Foxtel lectures Free to Air TV on competition
Foxtel CEO Kim Williams spoke yesterday about the need for greater competition in TV. Perhaps the problem is more that he’s just about to get some.
Companies must justify their ETS whingeing
The hypocrisy — or, more accurately, blatant dishonesty — of some of our biggest polluters is on the public record. Roll up Boral, Bluescope Steel, Caltex, Rio Tinto, Woodside and Xstrata.
Crikey Says: Government to blame for Commonwealth Bank rate rise
Joe Hockey is right that Friday’s unprompted rate rise from the Commonwealth is the Government’s fault — though not, unfortunately, for the reason he suggests.
Graeme Samuel breaks his silence on Pratt controversy
Samuel wants to clear the air over a bitter controversy over attempts to lay criminal charges against Richard Pratt, reports Business Spectator.
Questions for Graeme Samuel on national car pricing
The ACCC has created a massive hiccup in the car market threatening car companies with criminal proceedings if they release national indicative car prices to the media, writes John Mellor.
Oops Tiger to face scrutiny for “free” tickets?
Singapore owned Tiger Airways could get skinned by the ACCC over its sale of 30,000 FREE tickets last month.
Pratt Judge got the law wrong
Pratt’s final solace only came about because his judge made a big mistake.
Pratt’s defence fails to hold water
Newspaper columnists across the country have rushed to canonise the gravely ill billionaire, but the facts of the case are more slippery.
Deathbed reprieve for Dick Pratt
The prosecution has dropped the criminal case against Richard Pratt. But the dying mogul’s lawyers aren’t happy. And neither is the ACCC.
ACCC flailing as Kirin mops up Lion Nathan
Kirin breweries of Japan has been ‘dying’ to expand in Australia.
Tiger’s ANZAC Day rip-off exposed
Tiger Airways launched a blatant Anzac Day rip off this morning leaving itself open to prosecution under the Crimes Act and by the ACCC.
