Small business guide to trade practices compliance programs
On 27 April 2006 ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, launched the Small business guide to trade practices compliance programs at the Australasian Compliance Institutes' Regulators Conference in Melbourne.
The guide is designed to promote awareness of trade practices compliance issues in the small business sector and help small businesses understand how to comply with the Trade Practices Act.
The guide also provides information on what the ACCC is likely to require from a small business should it fail to meet its trade practices obligations.
Mr Samuel commented:
Small businesses are encouraged to use this guide and to seek professional advice on what requirements they need to satisfy, whether they are developing a compliance program as a result of a settlement with the ACCC or whether they are implementing a compliance program voluntarily.
The guideline, the second in a series, is available free through the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502 or from the ACCC website at www.accc.gov.au.
Guides to resolution of access disputes under Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act
Part IIIA of the Act sets out rules for businesses on access to infrastructure considered critical to competition in related markets, for example, railway tracks, water facilities and airport facilities.
The guide is targeted at owners and/or operators of infrastructure and parties seeking access to a declared facility and/or service but who are unable to agree on the terms and conditions of access. When an access dispute exists, either party may, in certain circumstances, request the ACCC to resolve the dispute through arbitration. The guide explains the requirements for an access dispute, the process which the ACCC will likely adopt in an arbitration and the obligations on parties to the dispute.
