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About the ACCC

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is an independent Commonwealth statutory authority established in 1995. Its role is to administer and enforce the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and other legislation, promoting competition, fair trading and regulating national infrastructure for the benefit of all Australians.

The ACCC also:

  • runs the National Anti-Scam Centre, which works with industry and government to make Australia a harder target for scammers
  • regulates Digital ID, which is a secure and convenient way for people to verify their identity online
  • provides secretariat services to the National Competition Council, including advice and support with the Council's decisions and reports, and administrative services.

ACCC purpose

We promote competition and protect consumers across Australia.

Our role

To achieve our purpose, the ACCC's objectives are to:

  • protect Australians from harmful products and practices
  • champion stronger competition in our economy
  • deliver benefits through effective and proportionate regulation
  • keep improving how we work. We will focus on governance and decision making, workforce capability, data and digital, ways of working, and communications and engagement.

See the:

  • ACCC Strategy for more information about what we do
  • ACCC milestones for key aspects in the development and administration of competition and consumer law in Australia.

Our structure and decision making

The ACCC has a Chair, Deputy Chairs, Commissioners and Associate Members.

Appointments to the ACCC involve participation by Commonwealth, state and territory governments. The ACCC currently comes under the portfolio responsibilities of The Treasury.

The ACCC makes decisions through formal meetings of its Commission.

ACCC Commissioners are statutory officers.

See also

Annual report

Corporate plan

Compliance and enforcement policy and priorities

Legislation

Memorandum of understanding between the ACCC and the National Competition Council ( PDF 897.48 KB )

The ACCC and the National Competition Council confidential information protocol ( PDF 98.16 KB )

Memorandum of understanding between the ACCC, AER and AEMC - 2014 ( PDF 780.19 KB | DOCX 292.76 KB )