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Retailers welcome changes to trade practices law - Trade Practices Act amendments pro-competition

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) supported the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill presented to parliament for consideration yesterday.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said the amendments provide certainty to the retail market by affording greater definition to section 46 and 51AC of the Trade Practices Act (TPA).

"The Bill makes a number of amendments to section 46 of the TPA improving and clarifying changes related to anticompetitive conduct made by the Howard Government last year. 

"The proposed amendments distinguish predatory pricing from legitimate competitive discounting, which was previously unclear. 

"This allows retailers to get on with business and provide benefits to consumers without being concerned they are breaching the TPA under recent amendments," Evans said

Evans added the amendments of section 46 will assist small business retailers seeking redress against anti-competitive behaviour.

"In appropriate circumstances, cases involving a misuse of market power may be heard in the Magistrates Court, offering more affordable justice than is currently available in the Federal Court. This is very good news for smaller retailers," Evans said.

For over 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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