76027 Competition Law

Description

This subject provides a comprehensive, in-depth and engaging examination of the economic and legal principles of competition law (also known as antitrust law or restrictive trade practices law) in Australia. It examines statute law, Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cwlth) (CCA) (formerly Part IV of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cwlth) (TPA)), the decisions of the common law Courts in interpreting the Act, as well as some international treaties on antitrust law enforcement, of which Australia is a party. Current issues and recent cases on competition laws and policies in Australia are also examined.

The subject covers the economic functioning of markets, market power and competition; the relationship between antitrust-related statute law, common law and economics; the evolution and objectives of Australian competition law and the administration and enforcement of competition law, both nationally and internationally. The subject also examines the evolution of competition law, including the reasons for competition law, the economic functioning of markets, market power and competition, the relationship between economics and competition laws, and the legislative feature of Australian competition law. The subject provides an in-depth examination of major anti-competitive statutory conduct in Part IV of the CCA, including mergers/acquisitions, misuse of market power, exclusionary conduct, monopolistic agreements/arrangements, exclusive dealing, and resale price maintenance. The subject provides an overview of the administration and enforcement of competition law in Australia, including the roles of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Australian Competition Tribunal and the Courts including authorisation and notification regimes, remedies for private litigants and other related matters. This analysis is supplemented with an examination of major international treaties on antitrust law enforcement, of which Australia is a party, and major international antitrust cases in which Australia is involved.