The Competitive Edge

It's been a busy first year for the new Australian government, with big changes in competition and consumer law and regulation and plenty more to come. Dr Leigh MP tells us what brought him to his portfolio, what keeps him going and how he sees concentration in Australian markets. Plus the Productivity Inquiry meets the Economic Dynamism Inquiry, a virtual ecosystem of digital ecosystem news from dating to default dance moves, and a High Court victory for Botox alternatives and comparative advertising. All this and more with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein of The Competitive Edge podcast. The Final Report of the Productivity Commission's Productivity Inquiry, Advancing Prosperity The House Economics Committee's Inquiry Into Promoting Economic Dynamism, Competition and Business Formation G+T on the Digital Platform Services Inquiry's Interim Report No. 7 on expanding digital ecosystems FTC press release on its final order against Fortnite for dark patterns MLex on Dutch dating apps swiping left on Apple's App store commitments G+T on the High Court decision on Botox v Protox All the latest from Dr Andrew Leigh MP The longest West Wing walk-and-talk Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Partner Simon Muys returns from the International Bar Association Competition Conference in Italy with the latest developments in European competition law, digging into the Jarndyce-scale Intel litigation and the Illumina/Grail blood offering. What do these trends reveal and what do they mean for Australia in a time of global antitrust coordination and domestic change? We ask the Machine.   Plus we look at the ACCC's new enforcement and compliance priorities and its recent green sweep, short thoughts on the ports in the courts, what's next for the Digital Platform Services Inquiry, the release of our annual analysis of competition enforcement, and smurf-smurfing at the Smurfic Games (or the Olympic Smurfs) …   All this and more with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein of The Competitive Edge with Gilbert + Tobin.   G+T's summary of the ACCC's 2023-24 compliance and enforcement priorities G+T's competition and consumer law year in review Australian Financial Review interview with ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe G+T's summary of ASIC's greenwashing action against Mercer The Guardian on price-fixing at the Tokyo Olympics The Danish Competition and Consumer Authority on detecting collusion with computational methods The Battler's Prince The Competitive Edge Cryptic Crossword #3 Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, consumer advocate Gerard Brody and G+T partner Elizabeth Avery discuss the role of fairness in competition and consumer law and the proposed prohibition on unfair trading practices . With a special introduction from Assistant Minister for Competition Dr Andrew Leigh. Plus a course change for privacy protections with the Attorney-General's Report, cartels and creature comforts in the Pilbara, ambition and distraction at the Federal Trade Commission, and word-checking the Treasurer's essay on markets Links: Highlights and hot takes on the Privacy Act Review from G+T's Technology + Digital team ACCC on alleged bid-rigging in mining camp IT and entertainment services Laurel Henning's interview with ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb in Mlex FTC policy statement on expansion of unfair methods of competition and Commissioner Wilson's dissent "Hold On" (1990) by Wilson Phillips Background and summary of the recent unfairness panel at G+T Capitalism After the Crisis by The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer Senate Economics Committee discusses the Treasurer's essay (skip to 16:14:30) GCR's Q&A with Chair Olha Pishchanska of Ukraine's Anti-Monopoly Committee Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Philip Marsden is a Professor of Law and Economics, an ultra-marathon runner, an antitrust rapper and a co-author of the Furman report into digital competition, and he joins us to talk about all these things and more. Plus everything that's happened since the last episode: regulations, consultations, user locations, triangulations, revised variations, and artificial intelligence gets fast and furious. All this and more with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein of The Competitive Edge with Gilbert + Tobin.   Treasury consultation on Digital Platform Regulatory Reform Jeremy Jose on the gas price cap in the Australian Financial Review ACCC consultation on the NBN Revised Variation to the Special Access Undertaking All 25 of Claude's absurd Fast & Furious movie titles Digital Competition Expert Panel, Unlocking Digital Competition ft. Dr Philip Marsden Dr Philip Marsden's original antitrust rap. Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half-time at the ACCC's five-year Digital Platform Services Inquiry sees the agency reflecting on changes in the high-tech sector and recommending a new approach to regulation, with up-front or ex-ante rulemaking in additional to traditional enforcement. Digital Platforms Branch General Manager Kate Reader discusses the ACCC's proposals and what they would mean for big tech, small business and consumers. Plus turf wars and concerted practices, government action on privacy and buy-now-pay-later arrangements, and Swift justice for Ticketmaster. All this and more with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein on The Competitive Edge with Gilbert + Tobin.   G+T on the ACCC's first concerted practices enforcement outcome against Lawn Solutions Australia MLex reporting on Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Information and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk at the IAPP Summit 2022 The Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Bill 2022 has finally passed both houses G+T on Treasury's consultation on the regulation of buy now, pay later services G+T's deep dive into the ACCC's Digital Platform Services Inquiry Interim Report No. 5 Senator Amy Klobuchar's letter to Ticketmaster following Taylor Swift ticketing issues Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Group leader Elizabeth Avery reports from a world tour of competition law conferences with an update on the new progressive antitrust which is quickly occupying the mainstream in the US, Europe and beyond. Plus ex ante or up-front regulation on the horizon with latest Interim Report in the Digital Platform Services Inquiry, an update on merger reform proposals, a lamentable rise in poetry scams, and class actions for cyber incidents. All this and more with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein of The Competitive Edge with Gilbert + Tobin.   Links: The ACCC's Digital Platform Services Inquiry Interim Report, September 2022  (Reppo No. 5) G+T's take on the Interim Report The Northern Ireland Assembly commissioned a briefing paper on the etymology of "ombudsman" Scams Awareness Week 2022 at Scamwatch. IP + Tech partner Michael Williams talks to the Law Society Journal about privacy and data breaches. Speeches from the 49th Fordham Antitrust Conference: FTC Chair Lina Khan, DOJ AAG Jonathan Kanter, EC EVP Margrethe Vestager, and ACCCCGCG. FTC Chair Lina Khan's address to Utah Law conference: "The New Roaring Twenties: the Progressive Agenda for Antitrust and Consumer Protection". MLex, "Big Tech could still face tailor-made merger thresholds in Australia, antitrust chief says" [$] Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au and follow us @gtcompedge Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our illustrious alum the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications, joins us to talk about the broadband repair job, sports broadcasting in the age of streaming, cyber security and the road from G+T to the Ministry. Plus new penalties for privacy breaches after Optus and Medibank; antitrust tackles the gender pay gap in Mexican football; and we're going a bit crazy waiting for DPSI Interim Report No 5.  All this and more with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein of The Competitive Edge with Gilbert + Tobin.   Links: The new Privacy Bill and the old Privacy Act Review MLex's reporting on ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb and Cofece's Heidi Sada at the Antitrust in Developing & Emerging Economies conference The proposed US (of course) Communications Over Various Feeds Electronically For Engagement or COVFEFE Act of 2017 How to really pronounce "GIF" at howtoreallypronouncegif.com The Minister wants YOU for the Anti-Siphoning Review Peter Waters on the US Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights Ladies and Gentlemen, the original Mambo #5 Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au and follow us at @gtcompedge Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are regulators ready for AI? Or do they need AI to help them? Peter Waters decodes the multiple challenges regulators face, and reprograms us for an innovation mindset as AI reaches from human brains to horses' feet, from detecting cartels to creating questionable art. Plus a new sequel to the Hilmer and Harper reforms, new merger process proposals on the horizon, and small duchesses and scant batchelors in the slate roofing cartel. All this and more on the latest episode, with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein.   Dr Andrew Leigh MP's speech on new competition policy reforms  ACCC at the House Economics Committee on Parliament TV  Alan Turing Institute on Common Regulatory Capacity for AI Dr Allan McCay on Neurotechnology, Law and the Legal Profession Peter Waters and the team on A.I. art for the masses Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au, follow us on Twitter @gtcompedge Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's state vs state as national regulation lags behind environmental imperatives. Special Counsel Geoff Petersen takes us through how regulated industries are shaped by the turbulent history of federalism - including Mark Twain's train ride to Albury. Plus the real takeaway from the Optus hack, new maximum penalties, an overhaul of unfair contract terms provisions and we raise the curtain on Opera Australia under its new Chair. All this and more with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein.   Simon Burns and Lesley Sutton on the Optus hack G+T on the new bill to increase penalties and prohibit unfair contract terms Justice Jagot's Bannerman lecture and Her Honour's paper on Matt's favourite competition law issue Mark Twain on "the most baffling and unaccountable marvel that Australasia can show" Hear the Pearl Fishers' Duet with Jussi Björling and Robert Merrill (1950) Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

USC Professor Danny Sokol  joins Partner Louise Klamka and Special Counsel Haidee Leung  to interrogate the need for digital specific regulation. Why the rush for ex ante rules?  What are the risks for Australia's transition to a more digital future? And what does all this have to do with soup? Plus two red lights from the ACCC for Qantas, what The Merge means for the future of Web3, no ports in a perfect storm for the Port of Geelong, and we creep up on small geographic markets in Woolworths' latest acquisition effort.   ACCC on Karabar then and now, and Prof Julie Clarke on Creepy Acquisitions Discussions Papers and Bills Compare the ACCC's 2019 and 2022 Statements of Issues on Qantas/Alliance ACCC register and media release on the Port of Geelong Parliamentary Inquiry into the implications of common ownership and capital concentration The Verge on The Merge Mark Knopfler, Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero) on YouTube Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition + Regulation team Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au Support the show: https://www.gtlaw.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.