Damages for Ending of the HIP
The Supreme Court of Victoria published its judgment in a class action against the Commonwealth of Australia arising out of the termination of the Home Insulation Program (HIP).
Federal Court Dismisses ACCC Proceedings Against Pacific National and Aurizon
The Federal Court has dismissed proceedings brought by the ACCC against rail companies Pacific National and Aurizon.
Supreme Court (QLD) dismisses case against Queensland Sugar
The Supreme Court of Queensland dismissed the legal action brought by Wilmar Sugar against Queensland Sugar Ltd.
Frontier Economics – Christmas holidays hours
The Australian offices of Frontier Economics will be closed from 5pm Monday 24 December 2018 and re-open Wednesday 2 January 2019 at 9am.
Frontier Economics Singapore – new address
Frontier Economics has moved into new offices in Singapore. This is effective from 1 July 2018.
Federal Court hands down judgment in rate-rigging case
Justice Jonathan Beach of the Federal Court of Australia today handed down his judgment in the case brought by Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) against Westpac.
Merger authorisation processes in Australia – comment by Philip Williams
Philip Williams provided the comment on a paper given by Dave Poddar at the Competition Law Conference 2018.
ACCC grants authorisation to jointly market NT gas
The ACCC announced today that it had granted authorisation to Central Petroleum and Macquarie Mereenie to jointly market gas from the Mereenie field.
ACCC grants interim authorisation to jointly market NT gas
The ACCC announced today that it had granted an interim authorisation to Central Petroleum and Macquarie Mereenie to begin negotiations for a joint supply arrangement for gas from the Mereenie field.
BHP and Esso to separately market Gippsland Basin Gas
The ACCC accepted court enforceable undertakings from BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd (BHP) and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd (Esso) to separately market their share of gas [...]
New Bulletin: Quantitative analysis – quality assured?
This bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at econometrics and discusses some examples of when econometric modelling goes awry.
Quantitative analysis – quality assured?
This bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at econometrics and discusses some examples of when econometric modelling goes awry.
ACCC clears the proposed acquisition of OfficeMax by Platinum Equity
The ACCC has cleared the proposed acquisition of OfficeMax by Platinum Equity.
Frontier Economics Singapore has a new address
Frontier Economics has moved into new, larger offices in Singapore following rapid growth in the past twelve months. This is effective from 31 July 2017.
Judge awards $30 million in damages to Bayer
Justice Jagot of the Federal Court of Australia has awarded damages of more than $25 million plus interest and costs to Bayer for Generic Health’s infringement of its patent.
Frontier Economics sponsors GCR Live Singapore 2-3 March 2017
Frontier Economics is an associate sponsor of the 2017 GCR Live conference in Singapore.
Is that a fact?
A recent decision by The Australian Competition Tribunal brings into sharp focus a difference between economists and the courts in their approach to facts. The decision is Application by Sea [...]
Australian government to legislate change to anti-competitive conduct provisions
The Turnbull government has announced it will implement the Harper Review’s recommendation to amend Section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, the provision which deals with misuse of [...]
Frontier Economics welcomes SFG Consulting and new executive directors
Specialist financial economists Professor Stephen Gray and Dr Jason Hall from SFG Consulting Pty Ltd, along with Andrew Harpham from our energy team have joined Frontier (Australia) as executive [...]
Administration of Victoria’s Courts removed from Department of Justice
A new statutory authority, Court Services Victoria (CSV) takes over the administration of courts in the state of Victoria from today.
Thinking outside the box: calculating damages
Explicit agreements among competitors that fix prices are illegal – and for good reason. If the collusion is successful, prices will be higher and output lower. But cartels are not always very [...]
AGL given green light on proposed acquisition of Macquarie Generation
The Australian Competition Tribunal (ACT) today granted approval for AGL to pursue its proposed $1.5bn acquisition of Macquarie Generation, the largest generation portfolio in New South Wales.
ACCC permits Woolworths’ acquisition of three supermarkets
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today announced it would allow Woolworths to acquire three Supa IGA supermarkets in Queensland.
Australian High Court quashes Tribunal decision on access to iron ore rail lines
The High Court of Australia (‘High Court’) today ruled that the Australian Competition Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’) had exceeded its powers in its decision regarding access to railway lines by [...]
Sportsbet challenges discrimination by Harness Racing Victoria
Sportsbet, the internet bookmaker based in Darwin, has claimed that various State governments have allowed racing regulators to levy discriminatory charges against it in order to prevent leakage [...]
Federal Court of Australia dismisses claims against Stanwell Corporation Ltd
Today, the Federal Court of Australia dismissed claims by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) that Stanwell Corporation Limited, a Queensland generator, had breached the ‘good faith’ provisions [...]
Queensland builders found guilty of price-fixing
The Federal Court of Australia today found that Queensland builders had engaged in price fixing by requesting and exchanging cover prices when tendering for government building projects.
New Zealand air freight decision
An international air freight cartel, involving airlines from New Zealand, Japan, the UAE, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Australia, has been the subject of proceedings in courts around [...]
Australian Federal Court finds gambling regulations to be anti-competitive
The Federal Court today issued its decision in the case of Sportsbet Pty Ltd v State of Victoria.
Not Patently Obvious
Many holders of patents (and some intellectual property lawyers) do not realise that the exercise of patent rights is constrained by the provisions of the Australian Trade Practices Act 1974.
Gyms to pay more for music in exercise classes
The Australian Copyright Tribunal decided this week to significantly increase the fee that Australian gyms must pay in order to play music recordings in exercise classes.
Victorian State Government announces gambling reforms
The Government of Victoria has announced the outcome of its review of gaming licensing arrangements. The current duopoly control of the state's poker machines will end and venues will compete in [...]
NZCC granted leave to appeal High Court decision re Woolworths acquisition
The New Zealand Commerce Commission was granted leave to appeal the earlier decision of the High Court that granted a clearance for Woolworths to proceed in its bid for The Warehouse Group.
Woolworths acquisition of The Warehouse Group in New Zealand cleared
On 4 December 2007, the New Zealand High Court released its decision in a major merger battle between Woolworths (the Australian supermarket operator) and the New Zealand Commerce Commission.
Federal Court of Australia confirms fine on fishery cartel
The Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne has ratified financial penalties for price-fixing that had been agreed between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and a group of [...]
Wastewater interconnection services and transportation services by Sydney Water
The Australian Competition Tribunal has decided to uphold the appeal by Services Sydney against the Minister's decision not to declare certain services provided by Sydney Water. This means that [...]
Airside Services at Sydney Airport subjected to regulation
The Australian Competition Tribunal has decided to uphold the appeal by Virgin Blue against the Minister's decision not to "declare" the Airside Service at Sydney Airport. This means that the [...]