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Media release

Airports' financial results in 2021-22 impacted by COVID-19 but passengers returned

The financial performance of Australia’s four largest airports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth) in 2021-22 remained well below the results achieved in the last full non-pandemic financial year of 2018-19, the ACCC’s latest Airport Monitoring Report shows.

Media release

Domestic airfares fall but prices remain above pre-pandemic levels

Domestic airfares have declined from historic highs at the end of 2022; however, they remain above 2019 prices, the ACCC’s latest Airline Competition in Australia report reveals.

Media release

Stevedores' profits surge during pandemic supply chain disruptions

The operating profit margin of Australia’s container stevedoring industry has increased by 14 percentage points since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to the highest level observed since the Patrick and DP World duopoly ended about a decade ago, the ACCC’s Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report 2021-22 reveals.

Media release

Health funds continue to return profits to meet COVID-19 commitments

Health insurers have handed back to policyholders about $2.1 billion of the profits they gained from a reduction in claims between the start of the pandemic and 30 June 2022, the ACCC’s latest report into the private health insurance industry has found.

Media release

Domestic airline industry approaches full recovery, but jet fuel prices hit record high

The number of passengers flying domestically in April 2022 was the highest it has been since the pandemic began, but jet fuel prices have surged to record levels and airfares are set to increase in the coming months, the ACCC’s latest Airline Competition in Australia report reveals.

Media release

Airports suffered during 2020-21 pandemic but most still made a profit

Australia’s four largest airports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth) had a combined operating profit in 2020-21 that was only about five per cent of what it was in the last full financial year before the pandemic, the ACCC’s latest Airport Monitoring Report reveals.

Media release

War in Ukraine and OPEC production limits pushed February petrol prices to eight-year high

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the OPEC cartel’s refusal to boost crude oil production, combined with recovering oil demand as countries relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, pushed February prices for both international refined petrol and average retail petrol in Australia’s five largest cities to an eight-year high.

Media release

Omicron slows airline recovery but passengers benefit from cheaper fares

The domestic airline industry is facing challenges from the changing COVID-19 environment but consumers have more choice, face cheaper airfares and stand to benefit from new carrier Bonza’s entry later this year, the ACCC’s latest Airline Competition in Australia report reveals.

Media release

An agenda to boost Australia's economic prosperity and fairness

A post-pandemic economic reform agenda that included laws against unfair trading practices, new rules for dominant digital platforms, infrastructure reform and changes to privacy and merger laws would improve the prosperity of all Australians and restore faith in the market economy, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said today.

Media release

Update on action on rapid antigen test pricing

The ACCC is continuing to receive a high number of consumer reports about pricing and selling practices relating to rapid antigen tests in Australia and is investigating several potential Australian Consumer Law breaches.

Media release

Concerning pricing of rapid antigen tests

The ACCC has significant concerns about the retail price of rapid antigen tests, reportedly often costing between $20-30 per test and sometimes over $70 a test through smaller retail outlets, despite wholesale costs ranging between $3.95 and $11.45 a test.

Media release

Media Statement on pricing of rapid antigen tests

The ACCC is aware of the significant public concern about the pricing of rapid antigen tests and is contacting suppliers and monitoring the situation very closely.

Media release

Health funds must exercise caution when calculating COVID-19 relief for policyholders

Insurers have continued to return profits gained from a reduction in claims during the COVID‑19 pandemic to policyholders, but ongoing restrictions in some states delayed the full return of these profits in 2020-21, the latest ACCC annual report into the private health insurance industry has found.

Media release

Global container trade disruptions leave Australian businesses vulnerable

The COVID-19 pandemic has destabilised the global container freight supply chain, and delayed shipments and rapidly rising freight rates are putting intense pressure on Australian exporters and importers, a new report from the ACCC reveals.

Media release

COVID restrictions bring domestic airline industry to a standstill

Travel restrictions as a result of the recent COVID-19 Delta outbreaks have brought the majority of domestic flying to a stop and delivered a significant blow to the local airline industry, the ACCC’s latest Airline Competition in Australia report reveals.

Media release

Medicine wholesalers to continue to co-operate on COVID-19 response

The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to medicine wholesalers to continue to co-operate in providing fair and efficient access to essential medication and pharmacy products as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Media release

Small business contacts continue to rise during pandemic

The ACCC received over 3,500 contacts from small businesses in the first six months of this year, the highest number of contacts in the last two years.

Media release

Banks' COVID-19 relief program authorised to continue

The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to allow the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and banks to continue to work together on a variety of existing COVID-19 related relief packages, so they can respond to any further outbreaks as required.

Media release

Household electricity bills increased in 2020 but are now expected to fall

Major falls in wholesale electricity costs and new laws requiring retailers to pass on cuts are likely to result in lower electricity bills in 2021, despite residential consumption rising by 10 per cent and household bills increasing by 7 per cent in 2020.

Media release

Holiday travel has driven recovery of domestic airline market

A surge in domestic tourism as a result of increased consumer confidence, lower airfares and greater competition between airlines helped drive the recovery of Australia’s airline industry in recent months, the ACCC’s fourth Airline Competition in Australia report reveals.

Media release

Scammers capitalise on pandemic as Australians lose record $851 million to scams

Australians lost over $851 million to scams in 2020, a record amount, as scammers took advantage of the pandemic to con unsuspecting people, according to the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report released today.

Media release

Mosaic Brands pays $630,000 in penalties over COVID-related 'health essentials'

Mosaic Brands Limited, an ASX listed company, has paid penalties totalling $630,000, and admitted that it breached the Australia Consumer Law in its promotion of pandemic-related ‘Health Essential Products’.

Media release

Competition exemptions in the time of COVID-19

In a six week period from mid-March 2020, the ACCC received 33 applications for authorisation of competitor collaborations to deal with disruption and risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Media release

COVID-19 pandemic slashes airport operating profits in 2019-20

The global pandemic caused the operating profits from aeronautical activities at Australia’s four largest airports to drop to a decade low after passenger numbers fell dramatically late in the 2019–20 financial year, the ACCC’s latest Airport Monitoring Report reveals.

Airports' financial results in 2021-22 impacted by COVID-19 but passengers returned

Domestic airfares fall but prices remain above pre-pandemic levels

Stevedores' profits surge during pandemic supply chain disruptions

Health funds continue to return profits to meet COVID-19 commitments

Domestic airline industry approaches full recovery, but jet fuel prices hit record high

Airports suffered during 2020-21 pandemic but most still made a profit

War in Ukraine and OPEC production limits pushed February petrol prices to eight-year high

Omicron slows airline recovery but passengers benefit from cheaper fares

An agenda to boost Australia's economic prosperity and fairness

Update on action on rapid antigen test pricing

Concerning pricing of rapid antigen tests

Media Statement on pricing of rapid antigen tests

Health funds must exercise caution when calculating COVID-19 relief for policyholders

Global container trade disruptions leave Australian businesses vulnerable

COVID restrictions bring domestic airline industry to a standstill

Medicine wholesalers to continue to co-operate on COVID-19 response

Small business contacts continue to rise during pandemic

Banks' COVID-19 relief program authorised to continue

Household electricity bills increased in 2020 but are now expected to fall

Holiday travel has driven recovery of domestic airline market

Scammers capitalise on pandemic as Australians lose record $851 million to scams

Mosaic Brands pays $630,000 in penalties over COVID-related 'health essentials'

Competition exemptions in the time of COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic slashes airport operating profits in 2019-20

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