External Communications

Media releases

The following articles were issued by the External Communications team:

• 4 August, Adelaide Advertiser—'Don’t feel threatened by big business players' (on unconscionable conduct)
• August/September edition, 50 Something—'Fairer pricing laws' (on s. 53C)
• 12 August, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age newspapers, 'Money' sections—'Stings attached' (on hidden phone costs)
• August edition, Consumers’ Federation of Australia Newsletter—'ACCC update'
• August 20, My Business Magazine—'Doing your franchise due diligence'
• August edition, In The Black—'Competitive Edge' (on the global financial crisis and competition policy)

Publications

Water market rules and water charge rules—enforcement guide
This publication outlines the ACCC's approach to enforcing the Water Market Rules 2009 and the Water Charge (Termination Fees) Rules 2009.

Published: 28 August 2009

Availability

Electronic: available at no cost
Printed: no printed version available

Product safety bulletin, May 2009—Flotation toys and swimming aids
The ACCC is keen to alert suppliers to requirements of two new mandatory product safety standards: Flotation and aquatic toys and Swimming and flotation aids.

These new mandatory product safety standards replace a previous standard declared in March 1992 that covered similar categories of toys and equipment, and was based on Australian Standard 1900–1991, Flotation toys and swimming aids for children. This Australian standard has been revised and is now known as AS 1900–2002, Flotation aids for water familiarization and swimming tuition.

Published: 11 August 2009

Availability

Electronic: available at no cost
Printed: no printed version available

Product safety bulletin, August 2009: Lead and certain elements in children’s toys and finger-paints
This bulletin outlines the acceptable level of lead migration under the permanent ban that commenced on 8 April 2009 for children’s toys and the new mandatory standard that will come into effect on 1 January 2010, which includes other elements in addition to lead in children’s toys and finger-paints.

Published: 11 August 2009

Availability

Electronic: available at no cost
Printed: no printed version available

ACCC update, issue 26
This edition of ACCC update looks at some of the issues surrounding mobile phones—including the hidden costs of mobile downloads, calling-card rip-offs and expensive global roaming—cartels and unit pricing for grocery stores.

Published: 10 August 2009

Availability

Electronic: available at no cost
Printed: available at no cost

Water rules monitoring guideline
This guideline sets out details of the proposed monitoring regime, in particular the information to be provided by reporting operators.

Published: 7 August 2009

Availability

Electronic: available at no cost
Printed: no printed version available

Outreach, July 2009
Issue 3 of Outreach, a quarterly newsletter for the ACCC's rural and regional supporter networks, was released during August.

Published: 4 August 2009

Availability

Electronic: available at no cost
Printed: available at no cost

ACCCount April to June 2009
ACCCount details the ACCC's activities in the enforcement of the Trade Practices Act, merger reviews, compliance actions, adjudication issues, economic regulation and international involvement during the April to June 2009 quarter.

Published: 4 August 2009

Availability

Electronic: available at no cost
Printed: no printed version available