Although Australia's Competition and Consumer Act
2010 (Cth) has contained criminal cartel prohibitions since
2009, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has now
made criminal cartel enforcement one of its top priorities. The
ACCC laid its first criminal cartel charges in 2017, and since that
time, it has laid charges against big business, small business and
individuals.
Companies of all sizes and their executives need to ensure that
their conduct does not fall foul of the cartel prohibitions.
This Jones Day White Paper reviews the ACCC's
recent prosecution efforts, the increasingly high penalties for
those who breach cartel laws, and the defences available to
companies and executives seeking leniency for cartel conduct.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.