John Durie: ACCC tipped to clear Telstra’s interest in Fetch TV, as telco looks to enter streaming market
The ACCC will rule on two mergers involving dominant companies this week, with both deals expected to clear due to the market circumstances.
John Durie: Small business on the losing side in the battle against staff shortages
Competition with big corporations to retain and hire staff amid widespread shortages is now emerging as a new hurdle for small business.
John Durie: ACCC now formally investigating Google’s $7.9 billion Mandiant acquisition
The $7.9 billion Mandiant deal is Google’s second biggest ever behind the $18.6 billion takeover of Motorola in 2012.
John Durie: With its energy investigation, the ACCC is in danger of becoming a government lap dog
ACCC boss Gina Cass-Gottlieb should be wary about raising expectations in the wake of the extraordinary focus on her utterly expected inquiry into electricity pricing.
John Durie: Labor to introduce super complaints function to fast-track small business grievances to the ACCC
Assistant Treasurer for Competition Andrew Leigh told SmartCompany a new complaints avenue for small business representatives would provide better channels to the ACCC from “trusted representative bodies”.
John Durie: Transport on the agenda for ACCC, as decisions on the Port of Geelong, and Virgin-Qantas Alliance stoush loom
The ACCC has three key decisions before it that could have a big impact on the transport and trade sectors.
John Durie: Least cost routing in the spotlight as ACCC pursues Mastercard over misuse of power
The ACCC's case against Mastercard is its second-ever section 46 case since the law was amended five years ago, alleging the payments giant misused its market power.
John Durie: ACCC takes Mastercard to court over card payment agreements with retailers
The ACCC alleges that after the RBA changed the rules in 2017 to demand so-called least cost routing, Mastercard did deals with the major retailers in an attempt to sidestep the new directives.
John Durie: Economic challenges remain, but Albanese’s new government could make life simpler for small business
As dramatic as election night proved to be, the reality facing business today starts with an economy tipped to slow by 50%, rising interest rates and continued chronic skill shortages.
John Durie: How CBA’s new Unloan product will help it defend its home loans against fintechs
The new Unloan product unveiled by chief Matt Comyn this week is part of the CBA defence of its $450 billion loan book against fintechs, and in the process gives the bank more control over its business.
John Durie: 71% of SMEs are expecting a change of government, but what happens next?
Small business started the election campaign with three key concerns: labour shortages, skills shortages and least cost routing. All three have barely touched the surface of the campaign.
John Durie: Banks could raise interest rates faster than RBA, as small business confidence expected to slump
The message has come loud and clear that more rate hikes are coming, and history says the banks will raise rates at a faster rate than the Reserve Bank to cover wholesale funding costs.
