Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The ACCC is an independent statutory authority responsible for enforcing the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The Competition and Consumer Act prohibits anticompetitive practices, including misuse of market power, price fixing and other collusive conduct. If there is evidence of anticompetitive practices, the ACCC is able to investigate and take action through the courts where appropriate. There are a number of avenues for people to raise concerns with the ACCC; however, ministers are specifically precluded from giving the ACCC a direction regarding the performance of its functions or the exercise of its powers.

As a government, we commissioned the Harper review, which, in its draft report, canvasses a wide range of issues, including planning and zoning issues. The draft report states:

Regulations relating to planning and zoning often restrict competition and impede structural change. Such restrictions can be addressed by including competition principles among the objectives of the various state and territory laws dealing with planning and zoning to ensure that competition issues are always considered.

Draft recommendation 10 is particularly relevant. (Time expired)