Andrew Leigh

MEDIA RELEASE

GOVERNMENT DELIVERING ON ACCC DESIGNATED COMPLAINTS FUNCTION

The Albanese Government is delivering on the Government’s Better Competition election commitment, with the release of draft legislation which creates a designated complaints function within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The function will empower designated consumer and small business advocates to submit a complaint to the ACCC where they have evidence of a significant or systemic market issue affecting Australian consumers or small businesses.

Once a designated complaint is lodged, the ACCC will be obliged to consider and publicly respond to the complaint within 90 days. The ACCC must state what further action, if any, will be taken in response to the complaint.

A copy of the draft legislation and explanatory material is available on the Treasury website under ‘Consultations’. Public consultation on the draft legislation opened today and will close on 3 January 2024.

Quote attributable to Assistant Minister for Charities, Competition and Treasury Andrew Leigh:

“This is good for consumers and it’s good for small business. Whether it’s airlines, telecommunications, or supermarkets, we’ve seen too many examples of consumers and small businesses not getting a fair deal.

“This designated complaints function will enable consumer and small business advocates to raise systemic issues and have them prioritised by the competition and consumer watchdog.”