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☆ Qantas will pay up to about $79 million to resolve claims it sold tickets for canceled flights
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Qantas was accused in 2023 of advertising tickets to flights that were already canceled. Regulators announced Sunday that the airline agreed to pay $13.2 million to impacted customers. Qantas will pay $149 to domestic ticket holders and $298 to international ticketholders. AdvertisementRegulators said on Sunday that Qantas Airways has agreed to pay about 20 million Australian dollars to more than 86,000 customers to settle allegations that the airline misled them by selling them tickets for canceled flights. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) said in a Sunday press release that the Australian airline company will pay 225 Australian dollars to domestic ticketholders and 450 Australian dollars — about $149 and $298 in US currency — to international ticketholders.

Persons: — Organizations: Qantas, Regulators, Service, Qantas Airways, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australian, Business

☆ Australia’s Qantas to pay $79 million to settle ‘ghost flights’ case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Sydney — Qantas Airways has agreed to pay 120 million Australian dollars ($79 million) to settle a lawsuit over the sale of thousands of tickets on already canceled flights, in an attempt to end a reputational crisis that has engulfed the airline. The fine is the biggest ever for an Australian airline and among the largest globally in the sector, although some Australian banks and casino operators have faced higher penalties. “We recognize Qantas let down customers and fell short of our own standards,” CEO Vanessa Hudson said in a statement. It had said the airline sometimes sold tickets to flights weeks after they were canceled. The ACCC’s Cass-Gottlieb noted that the settlement included a promise from Qantas not to repeat the conduct.

Persons: Vanessa Hudson, ”, Hudson’s, Alan Joyce, Hudson, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, ACCC’s Cass Organizations: Sydney, Qantas Airways, Qantas, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Federal Court, ACCC Locations: Hudson

☆ Australian regulator calls for new competition laws for digital platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog said on Monday new competition laws were required in response to the rapid expansion of digital platforms such as Amazon (AMZN.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Google (GOOGL.O), Meta (META.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) in the country. "Our proposed reforms include a call for targeted consumer protections and service-specific codes to prevent anti-competitive conduct by particular designated digital platforms," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. The aforementioned five digital platforms did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment. The regulator has also proposed new mandatory obligations on all digital platforms to address scams, harmful apps, fake reviews, including notice and action requirements and stronger verification of business users and reviews. Must ensure competition laws are fit-for-purpose to respond to the potential challenges posed by emerging technologies such as generative AI and virtual reality, ACCC said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Ayushman Ojha, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Tom Hogue Organizations: Facebook, REUTERS, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Digital, ACCC, Reuters, Thomson

☆ Qantas to fight regulator over cancelled flights tickets sale case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 30 (Reuters) - Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AX) on Monday said it will defend itself against Australia's competition regulator's accusations that the flagship carrier sold tickets to thousands of flights after they were after they were cancelled. Qantas said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) case, which accuses it of selling the tickets for flights for more than 48 hours after they were cancelled, does not constitute "fee for no service". "This is consistent with our obligations under consumer law and is what we did during the period the ACCC examined," Qantas said. Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Phil Noble, Sameer Manekar, Grant McCool Organizations: Qantas, Melbourne International Airport, REUTERS, Qantas Airways Ltd, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission's, Australian Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Qantas scraps plan to buy Alliance Aviation amid regulatory hurdle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Rishav Chatterjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Qantas Airways QF100 flight, which marks the airline's 100th birthday, departs from Sydney Airport to fly over Sydney Harbour in Australia, November 16, 2020. Qantas shares fell 2.7% to A$4.7 in early trade, whereas Alliance shed around 1%. He added that Qantas is dealing with a brand crisis, a part of which is tied to perceptions that the company acts anti-competitively. Qantas is not the only airline that is aiming to expand charter service offerings with smaller peer Regional Express Holdings (REX.AX) buying charter operator National Jet Express in July 2022. ($1 = 1.5785 Australian dollars)Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gregg Porteous, Tim Waterer, Kyle Rodda, Rishav Chatterjee, Shailesh Organizations: Qantas Airways QF100, Sydney Airport, Sydney Harbour, Handout, REUTERS, Qantas, Qantas Airways, Aviation Services, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Alliance, KCM Trade, Capital.com, Regional Express Holdings, National Jet Express, Thomson Locations: Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australia antitrust watchdog to oversee domestic air travel sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Qantas plane takes off from Kingsford Smith International Airport, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Qantas Airways Ltd FollowSYDNEY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Australia will ask its competition watchdog to monitor domestic passenger flights in a bid to boost competition in a sector dominated by national carrier Qantas, which is under scrutiny for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will monitor prices, costs and profits in the domestic air passenger sector, according to a joint statement from Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Transport Minister Catherine King on Wednesday. "A competitive airline industry helps to put downward pressure on prices and deliver more choice for Australians facing cost-of-living pressures," the statement said. "ACCC market scrutiny will help ensure airlines compete on their merits, bring to light any inappropriate market conduct should it occur, and provide continued transparency at a time when new and expanding airlines are still trying to establish themselves."

Persons: Loren Elliott, Jim Chalmers, Catherine King, Alan Joyce, Lewis Jackson, Muralikumar Organizations: Qantas, Kingsford Smith International, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, SYDNEY, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Transport, Qatar Airways, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Origin Energy shares surge after regulator clears Brookfield's $9.8 bln bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Scott Murdoch | トムソンロイター | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian Super, the largest investor, raised its stake to 14% last month and called the shares undervalued. Perpetual, a major Australian fund manager and Origin shareholder, has pushed Brookfield and its partner, U.S. private equity firm EIG, to consider raising their offer to win Origin, according to local media reports. Origin shares jumped to A$9.19 in early trading, well above the A$8.91 per share price of the consortium bid lodged in March, on speculation a higher offer could be forthcoming. Under the consortium deal, Origin will be broken up into two businesses, with its energy markets arm including its electricity generation and electricity and gas retail businesses to be acquired by Brookfield. Brookfield would also be prohibited from selling more than 10% of either Origin or AusNet in the future to one party.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Max Vickerson, I'm, Vickerson, Newmont, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Brookfield, Scott Murdoch, Jamie Freed 私 Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Origin Energy, Brookfield Corp, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, stockbroker Morgans, Perpetual, Newcrest Mining, Energy, ACCC, AusNet Services Locations: Australian, Brookfield, Australia, Victoria

SYDNEY, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The blocking of three major deals by Australia's antitrust regulator in the past year was a coincidence, its chair told Reuters, pushing back against concerns among bankers that it has become deal-averse. "There happens to have been a sequence, frankly coincidentally as it turns out, of oppositions," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in an interview. There are some concerns that it could be blocked as Brookfield owns AusNet, a poles and wires asset in Victoria state. Cass-Gottlieb also said she doubted foreign investors have been dissuaded from pursuing deals in Australia which does not require companies to get formal clearance before proceeding with a takeover. "The recent stream of merger blockages will make foreign investors think twice."

Persons: Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Canada's Brookfield, Cass, Stephen Corones, Hannah Marshall, it's, Byron Kaye, Scott Murdoch, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Telstra, TPG, ANZ, Transurban, Origin Energy, Brookfield, FOCUS Cass, Investors, Queensland University of Technology, Cass, Marque Lawyers, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, AusNet, Victoria, Australia, Queensland

☆ Australia says Qatar strip-searches of women in 2020 a factor in blocking extra flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the Qatar Airways' airbus A350 parked outside Qatar Airways maintenance hangar in Doha, Qatar, June 20, 2022. REUTERS/Imad Creidi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Australia said a strip-search of women at Qatar's main airport in 2020 played a part in its decision this year to stop Qatar Airways from selling more flights to Australia, denying it was acting due to pressure from rival Qantas Airways. The claim brings a new element to a controversy surrounding the Australian Labor government's relationship with Qantas (QAN.AX) which had lobbied against a Qatar Airways request to increase its flights. It was "nonsense" to suggest that adding more Qatar Airways flights would have put downward pressure on international fares, King added. Antitrust regulator the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said more Qatar Airways flights would have lowered fares.

Persons: Imad Creidi, Catherine King, King, Alan Joyce, Vanessa Hudson, Byron Kaye, Kirsty Needham, Michael Perry Organizations: Qatar Airways, airbus, REUTERS, Rights, Qantas Airways, Australian Labor, Qantas, Australian, Hamad International Airport, Antitrust, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ACCC, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Australia, Qatar's, Canberra

☆ Qantas CEO’s exit will barely reduce turbulence
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Alan Joyce, Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, speaks in front of a Qantas 747 jumbo jet, before its last departure from the Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, as Qantas retires its remaining Boeing 747 planes early due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, July 22, 2020. In July Canberra rejected Qatar Airways’ request to add 21 flights a week to key Australian cities. Gina Cass-Gottlieb, the watchdog’s chair, is targeting a fine of at least A$250 million ($162 million), she told ABC’s RN radio programme. Qantas customers can now get a cash refund, while credits issued by the group’s budget airline, Jetstar, now last indefinitely. On Aug. 24 Qantas reported record pre-tax earnings for the year to June 30 of A$2.47 billion.

Persons: Alan Joyce, Loren Elliott, Vanessa Hudson, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Hudson, Richard Goyder, Buckle, Joyce, “, ABC’s, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, Boeing, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Virgin Australia, Regional Express, Qatar Airways, Jetstar, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Canberra

☆ The CEO of airline Qantas is stepping down with a $24 million golden handshake, with one politician calling it the 'swindle of the century'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Qantas' CEO is stepping down from his role two months early and will receive a $24 million bonus. AdvertisementAdvertisementAlan Joyce, CEO of Australian national airline Qantas, is facing criticism for the $24 million golden goodbye he will receive after announcing that he is stepping down from his role early on Monday. "If the Board allows Mr Joyce to walk away with $24 million after illegally sacking 1,700 people, gouging customers and while subject to an ACCC prosecution, it will be the swindle of the century," Sheldon said. If Mr Joyce walks away with his $24 million, he will make their annual salary in less than 6 hours." AdvertisementAdvertisementJoyce earned $125 million over the 15 years he spent as Qantas' CEO and was even ranked the highest-paid CEO in Australia in 2018, Sky News Australia reported.

Persons: Alan Joyce, Joyce, Vanessa Hudson, Joyce's, Tony Sheldon, Mr Joyce, Sheldon, Michael Kaine Organizations: Qantas, Australian, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australian Labor Party, Transport Worker's Union of Australia, Australian Aviation, Sky News Australia, Transport Workers Union, ABC, Australia's Federal Locations: Australia

☆ Qantas apologises after Aussie regulator alleges ticket sale for cancelled flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: A ground worker walking near a Qantas plane is seen from the international terminal at Sydney Airport in Australia, November 29, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/file photo/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Qantas (QAN.AX) apologised for its service standards falling short and acknowledged it was suffering reputational damage, after the country's competition regulator sued it for allegedly selling tickets for thousands of cancelled flights. The regulator alleged that Qantas kept selling tickets for an average of 16 days after it had cancelled flights for reasons often within its control. Qantas clarified that its practice is that when a flight is cancelled, customers are offered an alternative flight close to the original departure time, or a refund. "The ACCC's allegations come at a time when Qantas' reputation has already been hit hard on several fronts.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Himanshi, Rashmi Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australia, Thomson Locations: Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australian regulator seeks 'hundreds of millions' in fines for Qantas
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The maximum penalty Qantas faces is 10% of annual turnover, which was A$19.8 billion in the year to June, according to Australian consumer laws. Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC would seek a fine for Qantas that was "significantly more than" the record A$125 million ($81 million) automaker Volkswagen was fined in 2019 for breaching Australian consumer laws. "We consider these penalties have been too low, we think the penalty should be in hundreds of millions, not tens of millions", she added. The regulator has said that Qantas kept selling tickets for an average of 16 days after it had cancelled flights for reasons often within its control. ($1 = 1.5420 Australian dollars)Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Cass, Renju Jose, Miral Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, Qantas Airways, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australia, ABC Radio, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Francisco

☆ Regulators want to fine Qantas 'hundreds of millions of dollars' for selling tickets for thousands of already-cancelled flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

It's accusing Qantas of continuing to sell tickets for 8,000 flights that had been cancelled. And it's seeking a record-breaking fine in the hundreds of millions of dollars, per Reuters. AdvertisementAdvertisementQantas could be fined hundreds of millions of dollars for selling tickets for thousands of flights that had already been cancelled if regulators get their way, Reuters reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementThat amounts to 70% of cancelled Qantas flights where tickets were still sold or ticket holders weren't told for at least two days after the cancelation, the regulator said. "We think the penalty should be in hundreds of millions, not tens of millions", she added, per Reuters.

Persons: weren't, Gina Cass, Gottlieb Organizations: Australian, Qantas, Morning, Reuters, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ACCC, Cass, Volkswagen

☆ Australia regulator sues Qantas alleging sale of tickets on cancelled flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Qantas Airways Ltd FollowSYDNEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator sued Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) on Thursday, accusing it of selling tickets to thousands of flights after they were cancelled, putting the airline at risk of huge fines and reputational turbulence. The airline kept selling tickets for an average of 16 days after it had cancelled flights for reasons often within its control, such as "network optimisation", the ACCC added. Qantas kept selling tickets to one Sydney-to-San Francisco flight 40 days after it had been cancelled, the regulator said. At the Senate hearing, Joyce confirmed Qantas had written to the federal government in 2022 asking it to deny a request from Qatar Airways, a Qantas competitor on international routes, to increase flights to Australia.

Persons: Phil Noble, Rico Merkert, Alan Joyce, Joyce, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Byron Kaye, Poonam, Shailesh Kuber, Rashmi Aich, Gerry Doyle, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Qantas, Melbourne International Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, SYDNEY, Qantas Airways, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ACCC, Sydney University's Institute of Transport, Logistics Studies, Australia, Senate, Qatar Airways, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ Aussie regulator takes Qantas to court for selling cancelled flights' tickets
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australian competition regulator has taken Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) to court, alleging the flagship carrier in mid-2022 kept selling tickets for more than 8,000 cancelled flights for an average of over two weeks after the flights were called off. "We have commenced these proceedings alleging that Qantas continued selling tickets for thousands of cancelled flights, likely affecting the travel plans of tens of thousands of people," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. "However, this case does not involve any alleged breach in relation to the actual cancellation of flights, but rather relates to Qantas' conduct after it had cancelled the flights." ACCC said it would pursue orders including penalties, injunctions, declarations, and costs against the airline for its conduct after flight cancellations. Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Poonam, Shailesh Kuber Organizations: Qantas Airways, Qantas, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Airlines, ACCC, Qantas Group, Jetstar, Thomson Locations: Australian, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's ANZ Group and Suncorp seek review of $3.2 bln deal block
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A pedestrian is reflected in the window of a branch of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) in central Sydney, Australia, October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Steven Saphore/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 25 (Reuters) - ANZ Group (ANZ.AX) and Suncorp Group (SUN.AX) said on Friday that they have filed separate applications to seek a tribunal review after Australia's competition regulator recently blocked ANZ's $3.2 billion buyout of Suncorp's banking arm. read moreBoth companies reaffirmed their mid-2024 target to execute the deal after the application to the Australian Competition Tribunal, an independent body that reviews ACCC decisions. ACCC acknowledged the companies' move, but declined to comment further. Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Steven Saphore, John Biju, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: New Zealand Banking Group, ANZ, REUTERS, Suncorp Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australian Competition Tribunal, ACCC, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's ANZ Group and Suncorp seek review of $3.2 billion deal block
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of the ANZ Bank is seen at Lambton Quay, in Wellington, New Zealand November 10, 2022. "A substantial lessening of competition in home loans would have major flow-on impacts to Australians with a mortgage," he added. The companies said they would seek a review of the determination at the Australian Competition Tribunal, an offshoot of the federal court which oversees takeover rulings. Taking the deal to the competition tribunal would delay its completion to mid-2024, if the tribunal approved it, from the late 2023 timeline the companies gave when they announced it a year ago. The ANZ-Suncorp deal also needs sign-off from Treasurer Jim Chalmers who declined to comment.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Mick Keogh, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Jim Chalmers, Byron Kaye, Himanshi, Stephen Coates Organizations: ANZ Bank, REUTERS, ANZ, Suncorp, ANZ Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australian Competition Tribunal, Citi, Telstra, TPG Telcom, Thomson Locations: Lambton Quay, Wellington , New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Australian competition regulator rejects $3.2 bln ANZ-Suncorp Bank deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Lucy CraymerAug 4 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator said on Friday it had denied authorisation for ANZ Group Holdings (ANZ.AX) to proceed with its proposed A$4.9 billion ($3.21 billion) acquisition of Suncorp Group's banking arm. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was not satisfied that the acquisition would not lessen competition in the supply of home loans to Australian customers. "Evidence we obtained strongly indicates that the major banks consider the second-tier banks to be a competitive threat," ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said in a statement. Keogh said the proposed acquisition would further "entrench an oligopoly" structure, with the country's four major banks dominating. "We believe the acquisition will improve competition, which will benefit Australian consumers, particularly in Queensland," ANZ said in a statement, noting that the ACCC's decision can be reviewed by the independent Australian Competition Tribunal.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Mick Keogh, Keogh, Himanshi, Shri Navaratnam, Subhranshu Organizations: ANZ Bank, REUTERS, ANZ Group Holdings, Suncorp, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ANZ, Australian Competition Tribunal, Thomson Locations: Lambton Quay, Wellington , New Zealand, Melbourne, Queensland, Bengaluru

☆ Australia fines Facebook owner Meta $14 mln for undisclosed data collection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 26 (Reuters) - An Australian court ordered Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O) to pay fines totalling A$20 million ($14 million) for collecting user data through a smartphone application advertised as a way to protect privacy without disclosing its actions. Australia's Federal Court also ordered Meta, through its subsidiaries Facebook Israel and the now-discontinued app, Onavo, to pay A$400,000 in legal costs to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which brought the civil lawsuit. Meta still faces a civil court action by Australia's Office of the Information Commissioner over its dealings with Cambridge Analytica in Australia. However, Facebook used Onavo to collect users' location, time and frequency using other smartphone apps, and websites they visited for its own advertising purposes, the judge Wendy Abraham said in a written judgment. ($1 = 1.4736 Australian dollars)Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Tom Hogue and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Meta, Wendy Abraham, Abraham, Byron Kaye, Tom Hogue Organizations: SYDNEY, Meta, Facebook Israel, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Cambridge, Australia's Office, Cambridge Analytica, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Australia, Lincoln

☆ Aussie competition regulator delays decision on ANZ's $3.3 bln Suncorp Bank buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 24 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator on Monday said it has delayed its decision on ANZ Group Holdings' (ANZ.AX) proposed A$4.9 billion ($3.30 billion) acquisition of Suncorp Bank (SUN.AX) by a week to August 4, and has requested a further extension of one week. "It is important that the ACCC has the opportunity to meaningfully consider the new information provided by ANZ and take it into account in its decision making," the regulator said. ANZ, the country's fourth-largest bank, in its response on Friday consented to an extension till August 4. This is the second time the regulator has sought an extension to its decision after the original deadline of mid-June was extended to late July. ($1 = 1.4865 Australian dollars)Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sameer Manekar, Varun Organizations: ANZ Group Holdings, Suncorp Bank, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ANZ, ACCC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Australia's competition watchdog puts data brokers on radar
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoJuly 10 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog on Monday asked consumers, businesses and other relevant stakeholders to provide their views about the business practices of data brokers in an attempt to regulate the country's digital platform services sector. Data brokers generally gather information like personal details of customers including their browsing and purchasing behaviour from a wide range of sources such as mobile applications, social media sites and card payment providers. The report will explore how third-party data brokers collect and use information to create products and services and if there may be competition and consumer issues arising from this, the ACCC said in a statement. The regulator's digital platforms branch has been conducting a five-year inquiry till 2025 to inquire into the markets for the supply of digital services. The report will focus on businesses that collect information from third-party sources and share or sell data to other organisations and, on the off chance that there might be competition and customer issues emerging from it.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Rishav Chatterjee, Rashmi Organizations: Oracle Corp, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Oracle, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Ireland, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Telstra-TPG Telecom network sharing deal blocked by Australia's competition tribunal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 21 (Reuters) - The Australian Competition Tribunal has upheld a decision to block a network sharing agreement between wireless internet firms Telstra Group (TLS.AX) and TPG Telecom (TPG.AX), TPG said on Wednesday. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had ruled against the plan in December, saying it would bring "a real risk that TPG and Optus will invest less in critical infrastructure". Optus, the country's No. 2 wireless internet provider and which is owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI), had opposed the deal, saying it would build Telstra's market dominance. Reporting by Harish Sridharan in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Harish Sridharan, Subhranshu Sahu Organizations: Australian, Telstra Group, TPG Telecom, TPG, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Australia's competition tribunal blocks Telstra-TPG Telecom network deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Harish Sridharan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

2 wireless internet provider owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI). TPG said it would review the tribunal's decision before considering its options for further appeal, including a judicial review in the Federal Court. Telstra shares were up 0.7% in early trade, while TPG's shares fell as much as 10.8%, the biggest intraday decline since August 2022. Optus, which had previously opposed the deal on the grounds it would build Telstra's market dominance, said it welcomed the tribunal's decision. "The tribunal's decision was a decisive move for competition in the sector," Commpete Chair Michelle Lim said.

Persons: Vicki Brady, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Commpete, Michelle Lim, Harish Sridharan, Subhranshu Sahu, Jamie Freed, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Companies Telecom, Optus, TPG Telecom, TPG, Telstra, Australian Competition Tribunal, Telstra Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Singapore Telecommunications, ACCC, ACT, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

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