ACCC

We're looking for a WHS and Wellbeing Officer to join our People and Culture Branch. In this role you'll coordinate work health safety and wellbeing events such as mental health training or sessions addressing wellbeing topics. You'll also manage and update relevant policies and guidelines, and develop instructional materials and articles. Applications close 16 June 2024: https://bit.ly/3Vc7zW2

The Federal Court has ordered Delta Building Automation (Delta) to pay a penalty of $1.5m for attempting to rig a tender at the National Gallery of Australia. Delta’s sole director, who organised a meeting in a Canberra café to discuss the bid rig with one of Delta’s competitors, was also ordered to pay a penalty of $120,000. These penalties follow the Court’s earlier findings that at that meeting the director, on behalf of Delta, offered to pay a competitor in exchange for agreeing to rig bids in a 2019 tender process conducted by the National Gallery of Australia for an upgrade to its building management system. “Attempting to bid-rig is a serious breach of our competition laws. This conduct in this case is particularly concerning, as it involved a tender for works being paid for with taxpayers’ money. This case should be a strong reminder to all businesses that engaging in any form of cartel conduct, including attempts that do not ultimately succeed, can lead to severe consequences.” - ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver. https://bit.ly/3VqKFeW

Here’s a wrap of our big announcements from May 👇

Since the National Anti-Scam Centre launched in July 2023, they’ve established partnerships across government, law enforcement and industry to disrupt criminal scammer activity. They’re utilising shared resources and intelligence to make Australia the hardest target for scammers. Follow their LinkedIn page to learn more about their anti-scam coordination and join the fight against scams.  

There is one week left to apply for our 2025 Graduate Program. Every day at the ACCC is a chance to make an impact – in our careers, for our colleagues, and for the good of Australia. You’ll receive ongoing learning and development, access to flexible working conditions, regular opportunities to network and the knowledge that your great work benefits the entire Australian community. Apply by 10 June 2024: https://bit.ly/455GPLq

This week we held an employee event to commemorate National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme, 'Now More Than Ever', is a reminder that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of First Nations Peoples will, and must, continue. During the event, our First Nations Employee Network Mipla Tunapri introduced members of their network and encouraged everyone to think about what reconciliation means to them. We also welcomed our newly formed First Nations Outreach and Advocacy team who will be focusing on our enduring priority area of conduct impacting First Nations Australians. At the ACCC, our vision for reconciliation is to create a workplace culture that wholly embraces unity and respect. Thanks to all our speakers and members of Mipla Tunapri and our Reconciliation Network for this engaging event. #NRW2024

We’re looking for experienced Directors to join our Government and Advocacy, Governance and Performance, and Consumer and Fair Trading Divisions. As a Director with us, you’ll have excellent leadership, management, and team development skills. You’ll mentor and build capability within a high-performing team. Applications close 9 June 2024, learn more.

From 4 May 2025, furniture suppliers will be required to meet the new mandatory information standard for toppling furniture, aiming to reduce risk of death and injury. Since 2000, 28 people including 17 children have sadly died as a result of toppling furniture, with hundreds more injured. These standards will apply to chests of drawers, wardrobes, bookcases, hall tables, display cabinets, buffets and sideboards with a height of 686mm or more, and entertainment units of any height. We're preparing supplier guidance and plan to engage with the furniture industry. After the 12 month transition period, penalties may apply to businesses who fail to comply. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4aEN9KM

The National Anti-Scam Centre is warning consumers to beware of anyone asking them to download software or an app over the phone, following a recent rise in reported losses to remote access scams. Reported losses to remote access scams increased in the first quarter of 2024 by 52% compared to the previous quarter. This trend contrasts with most other scam types which have seen reported losses decrease over this time. “Financial criminals use sophisticated emails, web-based pop-up messages and phone calls to impersonate well-known companies such as Microsoft to deceive people into thinking there is a problem with their account, computer or phone that needs fixing.” - ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe.

We’re seeking views on draft amendments to our immunity and cooperation policy for cartel conduct. Cartel conduct involves collusion between competitors to fix prices, restrict outputs, rig bids, and/or allocate customers, suppliers or territories. Our policy provides immunity from civil and criminal proceedings for the first eligible party to report a cartel to the ACCC. We regularly review our immunity policy to ensure that it remains effective in detecting, stopping and deterring cartel conduct. Interested stakeholders can review the draft amendments and provide feedback by 1 July 2024.