SYDNEY, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Monday it will go after higher penalties against big business on the back of recent successes.
The ACCC will use precedent created in recent High Court cases, such as the 11-million-Australian dollar fine levied on travel agent Flight Centre, to target a wider range of businesses who engage in price fixing via e-commerce.
ACCC Chairman Rod Sims, told the Australian Financial Review, that there were a number of businesses in his sights, and he planed to launch a review of the entire e-commerce sector in Australia.
"We may have been too cautious (on penalties) in the past," Sims said.
"Certainly in the future we won't settle unless the penalties are in accord with what we think they should be."
In a 2014 case against grocery mega-giant Coles, the presiding judge, Michelle Gordon, said a 10-million-Australian dollar fine levied for bullying suppliers was "arguably inadequate for a corporation the size of Coles."
In Australia, consumer penalties are far lower than those for competition, with the fines for breaching consumer rules drawing a maximum penalty of 1.1 million (Australian dollars), while competition breaches are 10 million (Australian dollars). Sims is adamant this needs to change.
In terms of the upcoming review of the e-commerce sector, Sims said the result would have "profound implications."
