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.............. 22
4B.......................... Consumers........................................................................ 25
4C.......................... Acquisition, supply and re‑supply.................................... 25
4E.......................... Market.............................................................................. 26
4F.......................... References to purpose or reason....................................... 26
4G......................... Lessening of competition to include preventing or hindering competition 27
4H......................... Application of Act in relation to leases and licences of land and buildings 27
4J........................... Joint ventures.................................................................... 27
4K.......................... Loss or damage to include injury...................................... 28
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..................................... 29
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..................................... 38
Part II—The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 39
6A......................... Establishment of Commission.......................................... 39
7............................ Constitution of Commission............................................. 40
8............................ Terms and conditions of appointment............................... 40
8A......................... Associate members........................................................... 40
8AB....................... AER members taken to be associate members.................. 42
9............................ Remuneration.................................................................... 42
10.......................... Deputy Chairpersons........................................................ 43
11.......................... Acting Chairperson........................................................... 43
12.......................... Leave of absence............................................................... 44
13.......................... Termination of appointment of members of the Commission.. 44
14.......................... Termination of appointment of associate members of the Commission 45
15.......................... Resignation....................................................................... 46
16.......................... Arrangement of business.................................................. 46
17.......................... Disclosure of interests by Chairperson............................. 46
17A....................... Disclosure of certain interests by members of the Commission when taking part in determinations of matters.......................................................................................... 46
18.......................... Meetings of Commission.................................................. 47
19.......................... Chairperson may direct Commission to sit in Divisions... 48
25.......................... Delegation by Commission............................................... 50
26.......................... Delegation by Commission of certain functions and powers 50
27.......................... Staff of Commission......................................................... 52
27A....................... Consultants....................................................................... 52
28.......................... Functions of Commission in relation to dissemination of information, law reform and research 52
29.......................... Commission to comply with directions of Minister and requirements of the Parliament 54
Part IIA—The National Competition Council 55
29A....................... Establishment of Council.................................................. 55
29B........................ Functions and powers of Council..................................... 55
29BA..................... Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on Council 56
29BB..................... How duty is imposed........................................................ 57
29BC..................... When a State/Territory energy law imposes a duty........... 58
29C........................ Membership of Council.................................................... 58
29D....................... Terms and conditions of office......................................... 58
29E........................ Acting Council President.................................................. 59
29F........................ Remuneration of Councillors............................................ 59
29G....................... Leave of absence............................................................... 59
29H....................... Termination of appointment of Councillors...................... 60
29I......................... Resignation of Councillors............................................... 60
29J......................... Arrangement of Council business..................................... 60
29L........................ Council meetings.............................................................. 61
29LA..................... Resolutions without meetings........................................... 61
29M....................... Staff to help Council......................................................... 62
29N....................... Consultants....................................................................... 62
29O....................... Annual report.................................................................... 62
Part III—The Australian Competition Tribunal 64
30.......................... Constitution of Tribunal.................................................... 64
31.......................... Qualifications of members of Tribunal............................. 64
31A....................... Appointment of Judge as presidential member of Tribunal not to affect tenure etc. 64
32.......................... Terms and conditions of appointment............................... 65
33.......................... Remuneration and allowances of members of Tribunal.... 65
34.......................... Acting appointments......................................................... 65
35.......................... Suspension and removal of members of Tribunal............. 67
36.......................... Resignation....................................................................... 67
37.......................... Constitution of Tribunal for particular matters.................. 68
38.......................... Validity of determinations................................................. 68
39.......................... President may give directions........................................... 68
40.......................... Disclosure of interests by members of Tribunal............... 68
41.......................... Presidential member to preside......................................... 69
42.......................... Decision of questions....................................................... 69
43.......................... Member of Tribunal ceasing to be available...................... 69
43A....................... Counsel assisting Tribunal................................................ 70
43B........................ Consultants....................................................................... 70
44.......................... Staff of Tribunal............................................................... 71
44A....................... Acting appointments......................................................... 71
Part IIIAA—The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) 72
Division 1—Preliminary 72
44AB..................... Definitions........................................................................ 72
44AC..................... This Part binds the Crown................................................ 72
44AD.................... Extra‑territorial operation.................................................. 72
Division 2—Establishment of the AER 74
44AE..................... Establishment of the AER................................................. 74
44AF..................... AER to hold money and property on behalf of the Commonwealth 74
44AG.................... Constitution of the AER................................................... 74
Division 3—Functions and powers of the AER 75
44AH.................... Commonwealth functions................................................. 75
44AI...................... Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on AER 75
44AIA................... No merits review of AER decisions................................. 76
44AJ...................... How duty is imposed........................................................ 76
44AK..................... When a State/Territory energy law etc. imposes a duty..... 78
44AL..................... Powers of the AER........................................................... 78
Division 4—Administrative provisions relating to the AER 79
Subdivision A—Appointment etc. of members 79
44AM.................... Appointment of Commonwealth AER members.............. 79
44AO.................... Acting appointment of Commonwealth AER member...... 79
44AP..................... Appointment of State/Territory AER members................. 80
44AQ.................... Acting appointment of State/Territory AER member........ 80
44AR..................... AER Chair........................................................................ 81
44ARA.................. AER Deputy Chair........................................................... 81
44ARB.................. AER Deputy Chair to act as the AER Chair..................... 82
44AS..................... Acting AER Deputy Chair................................................ 82
44AT..................... Remuneration of AER members....................................... 83
44AU.................... Additional remuneration of AER Chair............................ 83
44AV.................... Leave of absence............................................................... 83
44AW.................... Other terms and conditions............................................... 84
44AX.................... Outside employment......................................................... 84
44AY.................... Disclosure of interests...................................................... 84
44AZ..................... Resignation....................................................................... 85
44AAB.................. Termination of appointment.............................................. 85
Subdivision B—Staff etc. to assist the AER 86
44AAC.................. Staff etc. to assist the AER............................................... 86
Subdivision C—Meetings of the AER etc. 86
44AAD................. Meetings........................................................................... 86
44AAE.................. Resolutions without meetings........................................... 87
44AAEA............... Arbitration........................................................................ 87
Subdivision CA—Divisions of the AER 88
44AAEB............... Divisions of the AER—functions and powers under a law of the Commonwealth 88
44AAEC............... Divisions of the AER—functions and powers under a State/Territory energy law or a local energy instrument.......................................................................................... 90
Subdivision D—Miscellaneous 92
44AAF.................. Confidentiality.................................................................. 92
44AAFA............... Power of AER to obtain information and documents....... 94
44AAFB............... Failure to comply with notice to give information etc. is an offence 95
44AAFC............... AER may inspect, copy and retain documents.................. 96
44AAG................. Federal Court may make certain orders............................. 97
44AAGA.............. Federal Court may order disconnection if an event specified in the National Electricity Rules occurs 98
44AAH................. Delegation by the AER..................................................... 99
44AAI................... Fees.................................................................................. 99
44AAK.................. Regulations may deal with transitional matters................. 99
Part IIIAB—Application of the finance law 101
44AAL.................. Application of the finance law........................................ 101
Part IIIA—Access to services 102
Division 1—Preliminary 102
44AA.................... Objects of Part................................................................ 102
44B........................ Definitions...................................................................... 102
44C........................ How this Part applies to partnerships and joint ventures 106
44CA..................... Meaning of declaration criteria...................................... 107
44D....................... Meaning of designated Minister.........................