Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Fair Go for Consumers and Small Business) Bill 2024. The bill improves competition in the economy and supports consumers and small businesses. It leverages the success and powers of the ACCC, our world-leading regulator. This bill will establish a designated complaints mechanism for consumer groups and small-business advocates that are designated by the minister. It allows those groups—groups that see firsthand the significant and systemic market issues that consumers and small businesses face—to raise those issues faster and with priority to the ACCC. Importantly, the bill sets out that the ACCC must respond to complaints within 90 days. This is a fantastic change. It will result in better outcomes for consumers and small businesses. It will mean that the ACCC can be aware of issues and take action sooner, when action is required, so it is a very welcome change.

The Senate Economics Legislation Committee conducted an inquiry into the bill, and the support for this bill was overwhelming. Consumer groups overwhelmingly supported the bill, including the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Choice, the Consumer Action Law Centre, the Consumers Federation of Australia, the Consumer Policy Research Centre, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Super Consumers Australia and Energy Consumers Australia. They described it as a missing piece of the regulatory puzzle in addressing systemic and significant market issues. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry supported the bill too. They described it as a much-needed mechanism, noting that there is no existing process for small businesses or consumers to lodge a complaint with the ACCC and have a response be required. The Australian Food and Grocery Council commented that the bill would be well received in the food, beverage and grocery manufacturing sector. Similarly, the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia noted that this would provide an important channel for members and customers to bring attention to important issues that they face. The Western Australian Small Business Development Corporation said that this bill would empower small-business advocates to expedite assessments of issues and fast-track recommendations for action.

This is an important piece of the puzzle, as I said, but it is just one example of the fantastic work the government is doing to support consumers and address competition issues in our country. We've also increased penalties for corporations engaging in anticompetitive behaviour from $10 million to $50 million to deter unfair activity. We have strengthened protections against unfair contract terms to ensure that there's a level playing field for both small businesses and consumers. Dr Craig Emerson has been appointed to lead the review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct to ensure that the supermarket sector is working as it should. We have also established a competition taskforce within Treasury that is made up of competition experts to produce practical policies to boost competition and fuel wage growth in this country. This bill is just one piece of the puzzle in terms of improving competition and consumer protection settings in Australia and making sure that consumers and small businesses get a fair go.

In conclusion, it's great that the parliament will be supporting this bill.