The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission cartel case against the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union ACT and secretary Jason O’Mara has collapsed. Jim McIlroy reports.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
A new ACCC report has identified major weaknesses in the water market, but recommends more of the same, reports Tracey Carpenter.
Australia’s largest milk processor Murray Goulburn has announced it will close manufacturing plants in three small rural towns: Kiewa and Rochester in northern Victoria and Edith Creek in Tasmania.
Murray Goulburn expects 360 people will lose their jobs. The closures are in areas where there are no other industries.
This will have a huge impact on these three local communities. The 700 residents of Kiewa-Tangambalanga will lose 135 jobs from Murray Goulburn's factory closure.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairperson Rod Sims said selling public assets has created unregulated monopolies that hurt productivity and damaged the economy.
Speaking at the Melbourne Economic Forum on July 26, Sims said the sale of ports and electricity infrastructure and the opening of vocational education to private companies had caused the public to lose faith in privatisation and deregulation.
Sims said: "I've been a very strong advocate of privatisation for probably 30 years; I believe it enhances economic efficiency.
