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.............. 21
4B.......................... Consumers........................................................................ 24
4C.......................... Acquisition, supply and re‑supply.................................... 24
4E.......................... Market.............................................................................. 25
4F.......................... References to purpose or reason....................................... 25
4G......................... Lessening of competition to include preventing or hindering competition 26
4H......................... Application of Act in relation to leases and licences of land and buildings 26
4J........................... Joint ventures.................................................................... 27
4K.......................... Loss or damage to include injury...................................... 27
4KA....................... Definitions etc. that do not apply in Part XI or Schedule 2 28
4L.......................... Severability....................................................................... 28
4M......................... Saving of law relating to restraint of trade and breaches of confidence 28
4N......................... Extended application of Part IIIA..................................... 28
5............................ Extended application of this Act to conduct outside Australia 29
6............................ Extended application of this Act to persons who are not corporations 30
6AA...................... Application of the Criminal Code..................................... 37
Part II—The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 38
6A......................... Establishment of Commission.......................................... 38
7............................ Constitution of Commission............................................. 39
8............................ Terms and conditions of appointment............................... 39
8A......................... Associate members........................................................... 39
8AB....................... AER members taken to be associate members.................. 41
9............................ Remuneration.................................................................... 41
10.......................... Deputy Chairpersons........................................................ 42
11.......................... Acting Chairperson........................................................... 42
12.......................... Leave of absence............................................................... 43
13.......................... Termination of appointment of members of the Commission.. 43
14.......................... Termination of appointment of associate members of the Commission 44
15.......................... Resignation....................................................................... 45
16.......................... Arrangement of business.................................................. 45
17.......................... Disclosure of interests by Chairperson............................. 45
17A....................... Disclosure of certain interests by members of the Commission when taking part in determinations of matters.......................................................................................... 45
18.......................... Meetings of Commission.................................................. 46
19.......................... Chairperson may direct Commission to sit in Divisions... 47
25.......................... Delegation by Commission............................................... 49
26.......................... Delegation by Commission of certain functions and powers 49
27.......................... Staff of Commission......................................................... 51
27A....................... Consultants....................................................................... 51
28.......................... Functions of Commission in relation to dissemination of information, law reform and research 51
29.......................... Commission to comply with directions of Minister and requirements of the Parliament 53
Part IIA—The National Competition Council 54
29A....................... Establishment of Council.................................................. 54
29B........................ Functions and powers of Council..................................... 54
29BA..................... Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on Council 55
29BB..................... How duty is imposed........................................................ 56
29BC..................... When a State/Territory energy law imposes a duty........... 57
29C........................ Membership of Council.................................................... 57
29D....................... Terms and conditions of office......................................... 57
29E........................ Acting Council President.................................................. 58
29F........................ Remuneration of Councillors............................................ 58
29G....................... Leave of absence............................................................... 58
29H....................... Termination of appointment of Councillors...................... 59
29I......................... Resignation of Councillors............................................... 59
29J......................... Arrangement of Council business..................................... 59
29L........................ Council meetings.............................................................. 60
29LA..................... Resolutions without meetings........................................... 60
29M....................... Staff to help Council......................................................... 61
29N....................... Consultants....................................................................... 61
29O....................... Annual report.................................................................... 61
Part III—The Australian Competition Tribunal 63
30.......................... Constitution of Tribunal.................................................... 63
31.......................... Qualifications of members of Tribunal............................. 63
31A....................... Appointment of Judge as presidential member of Tribunal not to affect tenure etc. 63
32.......................... Terms and conditions of appointment............................... 64
33.......................... Remuneration and allowances of members of Tribunal.... 64
34.......................... Acting appointments......................................................... 64
35.......................... Suspension and removal of members of Tribunal............. 66
36.......................... Resignation....................................................................... 66
37.......................... Constitution of Tribunal for particular matters.................. 67
38.......................... Validity of determinations................................................. 67
39.......................... President may give directions........................................... 67
40.......................... Disclosure of interests by members of Tribunal............... 67
41.......................... Presidential member to preside......................................... 68
42.......................... Decision of questions....................................................... 68
43.......................... Member of Tribunal ceasing to be available...................... 68
43A....................... Counsel assisting Tribunal................................................ 69
43B........................ Consultants....................................................................... 69
44.......................... Staff of Tribunal............................................................... 70
44A....................... Acting appointments......................................................... 70
Part IIIAA—The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) 71
Division 1—Preliminary 71
44AB..................... Definitions........................................................................ 71
44AC..................... This Part binds the Crown................................................ 71
44AD.................... Extra‑territorial operation.................................................. 71
Division 2—Establishment of the AER 73
44AE..................... Establishment of the AER................................................. 73
44AF..................... AER to hold money and property on behalf of the Commonwealth 73
44AG.................... Constitution of the AER................................................... 73
Division 3—Functions and powers of the AER 74
44AH.................... Commonwealth functions................................................. 74
44AI...................... Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on AER 74
44AIA................... No merits review of AER decisions................................. 75
44AJ...................... How duty is imposed........................................................ 75
44AK..................... When a State/Territory energy law etc. imposes a duty..... 77
44AL..................... Powers of the AER........................................................... 77
Division 4—Administrative provisions relating to the AER 78
Subdivision A—Appointment etc. of members 78
44AM.................... Appointment of Commonwealth AER members.............. 78
44AO.................... Acting appointment of Commonwealth AER member...... 78
44AP..................... Appointment of State/Territory AER members................. 79
44AQ.................... Acting appointment of State/Territory AER member........ 79
44AR..................... AER Chair........................................................................ 80
44ARA.................. AER Deputy Chair........................................................... 80
44ARB.................. AER Deputy Chair to act as the AER Chair..................... 81
44AS..................... Acting AER Deputy Chair................................................ 81
44AT..................... Remuneration of AER members....................................... 82
44AU.................... Additional remuneration of AER Chair............................ 82
44AV.................... Leave of absence............................................................... 82
44AW.................... Other terms and conditions............................................... 83
44AX.................... Outside employment......................................................... 83
44AY.................... Disclosure of interests...................................................... 83
44AZ..................... Resignation....................................................................... 84
44AAB.................. Termination of appointment.............................................. 84
Subdivision B—Staff etc. to assist the AER 85
44AAC.................. Staff etc. to assist the AER............................................... 85
Subdivision C—Meetings of the AER etc. 85
44AAD................. Meetings........................................................................... 85
44AAE.................. Resolutions without meetings........................................... 86
44AAEA............... Arbitration........................................................................ 86
Subdivision CA—Divisions of the AER 87
44AAEB............... Divisions of the AER—functions and powers under a law of the Commonwealth 87
44AAEC............... Divisions of the AER—functions and powers under a State/Territory energy law or a local energy instrument.......................................................................................... 89
Subdivision D—Miscellaneous 91
44AAF.................. Confidentiality.................................................................. 91
44AAFA............... Power of AER to obtain information and documents....... 93
44AAFB............... Failure to comply with notice to give information etc. is an offence 94
44AAFC............... AER may inspect, copy and retain documents.................. 95
44AAG................. Federal Court may make certain orders............................. 96
44AAGA.............. Federal Court may order disconnection if an event specified in the National Electricity Rules occurs 97
44AAH................. Delegation by the AER..................................................... 98
44AAI................... Fees.................................................................................. 98