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After a year-long inquiry, the ACCC has found that childcare markets under the current regulatory settings are not delivering on key policy objectives for all households and communities, including in relation to accessibility and affordability.

Market forces alone have failed to meet community expectations and government objectives for childcare services and policy, the ACCC’s Childcare inquiry second interim report has found.

The ACCC has examined the price and availability of childcare services, how households select childcare services and the impact of Government contributions in its interim report, published today.

Parents and guardians have reported having their return to work delayed due to a lack of childcare while some are struggling with ‘extremely expensive’ fees, in initial responses to an ACCC Parents and guardians survey.

The ACCC is asking parents and guardians for their views on childcare services in Australia, as part of its year-long inquiry into the sector.

The ACCC today welcomed the direction from the Australian Government outlining details of the ACCC inquiry into the supply of childcare services in Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has accepted a court enforceable undertaking in relation to Nordic Capital Fund VII’s proposal to gain control of Max-Inf Holdings Limited.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today announced that it has discontinued proceedings against ABC Learning Centres for breach of court enforceable undertakings.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court in Melbourne against ABC Learning Centres Ltd.

ABC Learning Centres Limited has provided a court-enforceable undertaking to divest seven long day childcare centres in five regional areas, mainly in Queensland, to address Australian Competition and Consumer Commission concerns about ABC's acquisition of Hutchison's Child Care Services Ltd.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued a Statement of Issues on the proposed acquisition of BabyLove Products Pty Ltd by Britax Childcare Pty Ltd which invites further information and comment on the manufacture and supply of child car restraints in Australia. Britax and BabyLove both manufacture and supply child car restraints, and import and distribute infant wheeled goods (strollers and prams) onto the Australian market. "The ACCC is seeking further information on its competition concerns regarding the manufacture and supply of child car restraints before making a final decision", ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today. "In particular, the Statement of Issues seeks comments on the extent to which there would be competitive constraints on the merged entity, should the acquisition proceed".  The ACCC invites further submissions from Britax, its competitors, retailers and customers as well as other interested parties that focus on the topics outlined in the Statement of Issues by Thursday 10 August 2006.  The ACCC expects that, once it has considered any further submissions, it will make a final decision on the proposed acquisition on 31 August 2006. The Statement of Issues, which follows, will also be available on the ACCC's website, under Mergers.

ABC Learning Centres Limited has provided a court-enforceable undertaking to divest five child care centres in regional areas in order to obtain Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approval for its acquisition of Kids Campus Limited. The acquisition of long day child care centres can affect competition on a local basis, so the focus of the ACCC's investigations was on those local areas where child care centres were being acquired. "The ACCC considers that this undertaking is necessary to ensure that prices for long day child care services in these areas do not rise as a result of the merger and that, in particular, parents in regional areas continue to have a choice of long day child care services for their children", ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today. "The ACCC has conducted extensive market inquiries to examine the impact of the proposed transaction on competition in local markets, and has determined that, subject to the divestitures required by the undertaking, the acquisition will not lead to a substantial lessening of competition in any relevant market".

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has advised ABC Learning Centres that it will not oppose its acquisition of Peppercorn Management Group Limited and Child Care Centres Australia Limited.

Justice Spender of the Federal Court, Brisbane made orders declaring that Black on White Pty Ltd, trading as the Australian Early Childhood College, had breached the Trade Practices Act by engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct, and unconscionable conduct.