Competition and Consumer Act 2010

No. 51, 1974

Compilation No. 143

Compilation date:                              1 January 2023

Includes amendments up to:            Act No. 96, 2022

Registered:                                         2 March 2023

This compilation is in 4 volumes

Volume 1:       sections 1–53ZZC

Volume 2:       sections 55–110

Volume 3:       sections 10.01–187

Volume 4:       Schedules

                        Endnotes

Each volume has its own contents

This compilation includes commenced amendments made by Act No. 140, 2021.

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 January 2023 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

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‑territor