The ACCC’s enforcement function is a significant and core part of the ACCC’s overall objective to ensure compliance with the competition and consumer protection provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act and with state/territory competition codes.
In regard to its enforcement role, the ACCC continues to use its powers in a focused manner to prevent and deter unlawful conduct and to ensure that Australian businesses and consumers can operate with confidence in Australian markets.
Operational Information
The following operational information contains further detail on the work of Enforcement Operations.
ACCC/AER Information Policy
This document provides information on the collection, use and disclosure of information:
ACCC/AER Information Policy
Guide to Section 87B of the Competition and Consumer Act
These guidelines outline the ACCC’s current approach to administering s. 87B in connection with its enforcement activities:
Section 87B of the Competition and Consumer Act
Guide to Section 155 of the Competition and Consumer Act
A guide to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s power to obtain information, documents and evidence under s.155 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010:
ACCC Guidelines - use of s.155 powers
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
The purpose of the Compliance and enforcement policy is to set out the principles adopted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to achieve compliance with the law and to outline the ACCC’s enforcement powers, functions, priorities, strategies and regime:
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
Cartel Investigation
This provides guidance as to how the ACCC will approach its investigation of cartels:
ACCC cartel investigation powers
ACCC Immunity and Cooperation Policy for Cartel Conduct
These documents cover the ACCC Immunity Policy for Cartel Conduct and the guidelines for the interpretation of the policy:
ACCC immunity & cooperation policy for cartel conduct
ACCC immunity and cooperation policy FAQ
ACCC Cooperation Policy for Enforcement Matters
This policy deals with the ACCC's position in relation to immunity or leniency in circumstances flowing from cooperations in enforcement matters. The policy is expressed in terms of flexible guidelines because it continues to evolve in the light of Commission experience and marketplace changes:
ACCC cooperation policy for Enforcement matters 2002
ACCC intervention in private proceedings
These guidelines set out the factors the ACCC will consider when assessing whether to intervene in private court proceedings instituted under the Trade Practices Act.
ACCC intervention in private proceedings
Guidelines on the use of infringement notices
This guide provides background information and general guidance to businesses and their advisors on the ACCC's approach to issuing infringement notices under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the Act).
This guide is not intended to prescribe the circumstances in which the ACCC will issue infringement notices nor the manner in which it will use them.
Guidelines on the use of infringement notices
ACCC powers to issue infringement, substantiation and public warning notices
In April 2010, a range of consumer protection and fair trading reforms came into effect.
ACCC powers to issue infringement, substantiation and public warning notices
The ACCC's accountability framework for investigations
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s accountability framework for investigations outlines the governance and management structures and the systems and processes that enable the ACCC to exercise its powers as a competition and consumer agency in a transparent and accountable manner.
Documents
