Contents
Part I—Preliminary 1
1............................ Short title............................................................................ 1
2............................ Object of this Act................................................................ 1
2A......................... Application of Act to Commonwealth and Commonwealth authorities 1
2B.......................... Application of Act to States and Territories........................ 2
2BA....................... Application of Part IV to local government bodies............. 2
2C.......................... Activities that are not business............................................ 3
3............................ Repeal................................................................................. 4
4............................ Interpretation....................................................................... 5
4A......................... Subsidiary, holding and related bodies corporate.............. 19
4B.......................... Consumers........................................................................ 22
4C.......................... Acquisition, supply and re‑supply.................................... 22
4E.......................... Market.............................................................................. 23
4F.......................... References to purpose or reason....................................... 23
4G......................... Lessening of competition to include preventing or hindering competition 24
4H......................... Application of Act in relation to leases and licences of land and buildings 24
4J........................... Joint ventures.................................................................... 24
4K.......................... Loss or damage to include injury...................................... 25
4KA....................... Definitions etc. that do not apply in Part XI or Schedule 2 25
4L.......................... Severability....................................................................... 25
4M......................... Saving of law relating to restraint of trade and breaches of confidence 25
4N......................... Extended application of Part IIIA..................................... 26
5............................ Extended application of this Act to conduct outside Australia 26
6............................ Extended application of this Act to persons who are not corporations 27
6AA...................... Application of the Criminal Code..................................... 35
Part II—The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 36
6A......................... Establishment of Commission.......................................... 36
7............................ Constitution of Commission............................................. 37
8............................ Terms and conditions of appointment............................... 37
8A......................... Associate members........................................................... 37
8AB....................... AER members taken to be associate members.................. 39
9............................ Remuneration.................................................................... 39
10.......................... Deputy Chairpersons........................................................ 40
11.......................... Acting Chairperson........................................................... 40
12.......................... Leave of absence............................................................... 41
13.......................... Termination of appointment of members of the Commission.. 41
14.......................... Termination of appointment of associate members of the Commission 42
15.......................... Resignation....................................................................... 43
16.......................... Arrangement of business.................................................. 43
17.......................... Disclosure of interests by Chairperson............................. 43
17A....................... Disclosure of certain interests by members of the Commission when taking part in determinations of matters.......................................................................................... 43
18.......................... Meetings of Commission.................................................. 44
19.......................... Chairperson may direct Commission to sit in Divisions... 45
25.......................... Delegation by Commission............................................... 47
26.......................... Delegation by Commission of certain functions and powers 47
27.......................... Staff of Commission......................................................... 49
27A....................... Consultants....................................................................... 49
28.......................... Functions of Commission in relation to dissemination of information, law reform and research 49
29.......................... Commission to comply with directions of Minister and requirements of the Parliament 51
Part IIA—The National Competition Council 52
29A....................... Establishment of Council.................................................. 52
29B........................ Functions and powers of Council..................................... 52
29BA..................... Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on Council 53
29BB..................... How duty is imposed........................................................ 54
29BC..................... When a State/Territory energy law imposes a duty........... 55
29C........................ Membership of Council.................................................... 55
29D....................... Terms and conditions of office......................................... 55
29E........................ Acting Council President.................................................. 56
29F........................ Remuneration of Councillors............................................ 56
29G....................... Leave of absence............................................................... 56
29H....................... Termination of appointment of Councillors...................... 57
29I......................... Resignation of Councillors............................................... 57
29J......................... Arrangement of Council business..................................... 57
29L........................ Council meetings.............................................................. 58
29LA..................... Resolutions without meetings........................................... 58
29M....................... Staff to help Council......................................................... 59
29N....................... Consultants....................................................................... 59
29O....................... Annual report.................................................................... 59
Part III—The Australian Competition Tribunal 61
30.......................... Constitution of Tribunal.................................................... 61
31.......................... Qualifications of members of Tribunal............................. 61
31A....................... Appointment of Judge as presidential member of Tribunal not to affect tenure etc. 61
32.......................... Terms and conditions of appointment............................... 62
33.......................... Remuneration and allowances of members of Tribunal.... 62
34.......................... Acting appointments......................................................... 62
35.......................... Suspension and removal of members of Tribunal............. 64
36.......................... Resignation....................................................................... 64
37.......................... Constitution of Tribunal for particular matters.................. 65
38.......................... Validity of determinations................................................. 65
39.......................... President may give directions........................................... 65
40.......................... Disclosure of interests by members of Tribunal............... 65
41.......................... Presidential member to preside......................................... 66
42.......................... Decision of questions....................................................... 66
43.......................... Member of Tribunal ceasing to be available...................... 66
43A....................... Counsel assisting Tribunal................................................ 67
43B........................ Consultants....................................................................... 67
44.......................... Staff of Tribunal............................................................... 68
44A....................... Acting appointments......................................................... 68
Part IIIAA—The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) 69
Division 1—Preliminary 69
44AB..................... Definitions........................................................................ 69
44AC..................... This Part binds the Crown................................................ 69
44AD.................... Extra‑territorial operation.................................................. 69
Division 2—Establishment of the AER 71
44AE..................... Establishment of the AER................................................. 71
44AF..................... AER to hold money and property on behalf of the Commonwealth 71
44AG.................... Constitution of the AER................................................... 71
Division 3—Functions and powers of the AER 72
44AH.................... Commonwealth functions................................................. 72
44AI...................... Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on AER 72
44AIA................... No merits review of AER decisions................................. 73
44AJ...................... How duty is imposed........................................................ 73
44AK..................... When a State/Territory energy law etc. imposes a duty..... 75
44AL..................... Powers of the AER........................................................... 75
Division 4—Administrative provisions relating to the AER 76
Subdivision A—Appointment etc. of members 76
44AM.................... Appointment of Commonwealth AER members.............. 76
44AO.................... Acting appointment of Commonwealth AER member...... 76
44AP..................... Appointment of State/Territory AER members................. 77
44AQ.................... Acting appointment of State/Territory AER member........ 77
44AR..................... AER Chair........................................................................ 78
44ARA.................. AER Deputy Chair........................................................... 78
44ARB.................. AER Deputy Chair to act as the AER Chair..................... 79
44AS..................... Acting AER Deputy Chair................................................ 79
44AT..................... Remuneration of AER members....................................... 80
44AU.................... Additional remuneration of AER Chair............................ 80
44AV.................... Leave of absence............................................................... 80
44AW.................... Other terms and conditions............................................... 81
44AX.................... Outside employment......................................................... 81
44AY.................... Disclosure of interests...................................................... 81
44AZ..................... Resignation....................................................................... 82
44AAB.................. Termination of appointment.............................................. 82
Subdivision B—Staff etc. to assist the AER 83
44AAC.................. Staff etc. to assist the AER............................................... 83
Subdivision C—Meetings of the AER etc. 83
44AAD................. Meetings........................................................................... 83
44AAE.................. Resolutions without meetings........................................... 84
44AAEA............... Arbitration........................................................................ 84
Subdivision CA—Divisions of the AER 85
44AAEB............... Divisions of the AER—functions and powers under a law of the Commonwealth 85
44AAEC............... Divisions of the AER—functions and powers under a State/Territory energy law or a local energy instrument.......................................................................................... 87
Subdivision D—Miscellaneous 89
44AAF.................. Confidentiality.................................................................. 89
44AAFA............... Power of AER to obtain information and documents....... 91
44AAFB............... Failure to comply with notice to give information etc. is an offence 92
44AAFC............... AER may inspect, copy and retain documents.................. 93
44AAG................. Federal Court may make certain orders............................. 94
44AAGA.............. Federal Court may order disconnection if an event specified in the National Electricity Rules occurs 95
44AAH................. Delegation by the AER..................................................... 96
44AAI................... Fees.................................................................................. 96
44AAK.................. Regulations may deal with transitional matters................. 96
Part IIIAB—Application of the finance law 98
44AAL.................. Application of the finance law.......................................... 98
Part IIIA—Access to services 99
Division 1—Preliminary 99
44AA.................... Objects of Part.................................................................. 99
44B........................ Definitions........................................................................ 99
44C........................ How this Part applies to partnerships and joint ventures 103
44CA..................... Meaning of declaration criteria...................................... 104
44D....................... Meaning of designated Minister..................................... 105
44DA.................... The principles in the Competition Principles Agreement have status as guidelines 106
44E........................ This Part binds the Crown.............................................. 107
Division 2—Declared services 108
Subdivision A—Recommendation by the Council 108
44F........................ Person may request recommendation.............................. 108
44FA..................... Council may request information.................................... 110
44G....................... Criteria for the Council recommending declaration of a service 111
44GA.................... Time limit for Council recommendations........................ 111
44GB..................... Council may invite public submissions on the application 113
44GC..................... Council must publish its recommendation...................... 115
Subdivision B—Declaration by the designated Minister 116
44H....................... Designated Minister may declare a service..................... 116
44HA.................... Designated Minister must publish his or her decision.... 116
44I......................... Duration and effect of declaration................................... 117
44J......................... Revocation of declaration................................................ 118
44K........................ Review of declaration..................................................... 119
44KA..................... Tribunal may stay operation of declaration..................... 120
44KB..................... Tribunal may order costs be awarded............................. 122
44L........................ Review of decision not to revoke a declaration............... 123
Division 2AA—Services that are ineligible to be declared 125
Subdivision A—Scope of Division 125
44LA..................... Constitutional limits on operation of this Division.......... 125
Subdivision B—Ineligibility recommendation by Council 125
44LB..................... Ineligibility recommendation........................................... 125
44LC..................... Council may request information.................................... 127
44LD..................... Time limit for Council recommendations........................ 128
44LE...................... Council may invite public submissions on the application 130
44LF...................... Council must publish its recommendation...................... 131
Subdivision C—Designated Minister’s decision on ineligibility 132
44LG..................... Designated Minister’s decision on ineligibility............... 132
44LH..................... Designated Minister must publish his or her decision.... 134
Subdivision D—Revocation of ineligibility decision 134
44LI....................... Revocation of ineligibility decision................................. 134
Subdivision E—Review of decisions 136
44LJ...................... Review of ineligibility decisions..................................... 136
44LK..................... Review of decision to revoke or not revoke an ineligibility decision 138
Subdivision F—Other matters 140
44LL...................... Ineligibility decisions subject to alteration, cancellation etc. 140
Division 2A—Effective access regimes 141
Subdivision A—Recommendation by Council 141
44M....................... Recommendation for a Ministerial decision on effectiveness of access regime 141
44MA.................... Council may request information.................................... 142
Subdivision B—Decision by Commonwealth Minister 142
44N....................... Ministerial decision on effectiveness of access regime... 142
Subdivision C—Extensions of Commonwealth Minister’s decision 144
44NA.................... Recommendation by Council.......................................... 144
44NAA................. Council may request information.................................... 145
44NB..................... Decision by the Commonwealth Minister....................... 145
Subdivision CA—Revocation of Commonwealth Minister’s decision 146
44NBA.................. Recommendation by Council.......................................... 146
44NBB.................. Council may request information.................................... 148
44NBC.................. Decision by the Commonwealth Minister....................... 149