ACCC

This week marks a year since changes to the unfair contract terms laws came into effect. Proposing, using or relying on unfair contract terms in standard form contracts is banned and penalties for breaches apply. If your business needs a reminder on the unfair contract terms rules, we have a short education module available on our website: https://bit.ly/3CeAuTr

These talks were facilitated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) we signed alongside the Vietnam Competition Commission (VCC) earlier this year. The aim of the MOU is to foster cooperation through even closer collaboration. 

Our Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb shared new data on uptake and use of the Consumer Data Right (CDR), in a speech at the Gilbert + Tobin Financial Services Forum in Sydney yesterday. “Usage and uptake of the Consumer Data Right is showing exciting potential to help consumers access new products and services, including better deals on a range of banking and financial products. Data sharing under the CDR is occurring on a daily basis and the underlying digital infrastructure of the CDR has handled increasingly heavy traffic while maintaining fast response times.” – Gina Cass-Gottlieb. We're also seeing continuing growth in the number of people who – having provided their consent to share data – are receiving CDR-related services from participants in the ecosystem. In the six months to June 2024, CDR participants reported to the ACCC that they received almost 390 million requests for consumer data. Read more: https://bit.ly/3YWvtIl

Catch up on our announcements from October 👇

We have multiple roles available for Lawyers to join our team providing legal services in relation to mergers, applications for authorisation and digital platform matters. In this role you'll provide legal advice on complex issues relating to the functions and powers of the ACCC under the Competition and Consumer Act. You'll also assist with the conduct of investigations and court and tribunal proceedings for the ACCC, including working closely with external lawyers. Applications close 10 November 2024. Apply here: https://bit.ly/3YMuB94

We’ve commenced proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that Optus engaged in unconscionable conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law when selling telecommunications goods and services to hundreds of consumers, that they often did not want or need, and could not afford, and in some cases then pursuing consumers for debts resulting from these sales. Our case involves allegations that Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with about 429 consumers. Many of these consumers were experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage. Read more: https://bit.ly/4hviq7V

Did your Qantas flight between 1 May 2022 and 10 May 2024 get cancelled? If so, you may be eligible for compensation. Following legal action from the ACCC, Qantas has agreed to pay about $20 million to more than 86,000 affected customers who were sold tickets on flights that Qantas had already decided to cancel. Payment amounts are $225 to domestic ticketholders and $450 to international ticketholders. If you’re eligible to make a claim for compensation, you should have recently received a reminder text or email from Qantas and Deloitte. You can submit your claim for payment by 6 May 2025 here: https://bit.ly/3Ysao6S 🚨 Watch out for scammers taking advantage of this announcement by falsely claiming they can organise compensation payments. Don’t give your personal info or access to your computer or bank account to someone calling you out of the blue. Never tap links in texts or open attachments in emails if you weren’t expecting the text or email. Any text or email you receive from Qantas or Deloitte about compensation will not include links.

We're looking for someone with technical expertise in payroll system Aurion to join our People Branch. In this role you'll be responsible for managing and enhancing the effectiveness of Aurion for the ACCC. This includes problem solving and troubleshooting complex HR challenges and monitoring service delivery, expectations and service level agreements. Applications close 3 November 2024. Apply here: https://bit.ly/4fhDeO3

We've released the ACCC and Australian Energy Regulator Annual Report for 2023-24. As noted by our Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb: "Over the past year, the ACCC has conducted a substantial body of work framed by the key challenges facing our economy and community, including the net zero transition, the opportunities and disruptions of digital transformation, and the significant impact of cost of living and cost of doing business pressures. As the ACCC has been given wider and renewed roles by parliament we have a broader remit while remaining focused on keeping the economy competitive and protecting the rights of consumers and small businesses.” The report is available here: https://bit.ly/40nMpZ0

We're looking for Assistant Directors to join our Compliance and Enforcement, and Accreditation, Guidance and Policy Branches. In this role you’ll lead compliance activities and investigations, prepare industry guidance on Consumer Data Right (CDR) obligations and represent the ACCC at stakeholder forums and meetings. You’ll also have the responsibility for managing staff to deliver high quality outcomes within a changeable and evolving environment. Applications close 27 October 2024. https://bit.ly/3UfUStv