15 Apr THE ACCC MERGER GUIDELINES; TRUMP HINTS AT TARIFF BREAKS
THE ACCC MERGER GUIDELINES
This month, the ACCC unveiled its draft merger assessment guidelines for public consultation, marking a significant step in the country’s approach to merger control.
The guidelines, released on March 20, 2025, are part of significant changes to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) passed by Parliament in December 2024 – with the aim of providing greater clarity and predictability for businesses navigating the merger process.
The ACCC outline a comprehensive framework for evaluating mergers, focusing on preventing substantial lessening of competition, including cases that create, strengthen, or entrench market power. For mergers likely to harm competition, parties can apply for approval based on net public benefits, balancing efficiency gains against detriments through qualitative and quantitative assessments.
The ACCC is inviting feedback from stakeholders, including businesses, legal professionals, economists, and the public. The new regime comes into effect on 1 January 2026.
TRUMP HINTS AT TARIFF BREAKS
US President Donald Trump has signalled trading partners could receive possible exemptions or reductions in his tariff roll-out scheduled for April 2. Australian Financial Review reported this week that Trump “may give a lot of countries breaks,” as Australia braces for a fresh round of tariffs, possibly targeting beef, sheep meat and pharmaceuticals.
Financial Times said the threat of tariffs will not spark a manufacturing renaissance and companies have no clarity on what Trump’s plans to implement reciprocal tariffs next week looks like, let alone what US policy will be in a few years.
The Guardian reported that Trump’s obsession with tariffs had already shown itself to be a lose-lose strategy and with his on-again-off again, here today-gone-tomorrow tariffs, he has made many stability-craving CEOs too scared.
WFH – NOT JUST A PHASE
Working from home is no longer a passing trend – it’s the new normal, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. WFH rates have recently plateaued at 35 to 40 per cent, up from 20 per cent pre pandemic. Despite fears, productivity has not dwindled. Still, companies such as Tabcorp and Amazon are pushing for a full return to the office.
However, studies have shown that employees love hybrid work, with many saying they would trade 5 to 10 per cent of their salary to keep it. It has also been proven to boost happiness, reduce quit rates, and save companies money on office space and wages – a win for everyone.
So rather than pushing for a return to the office, experts say the real challenge is designing flexible models that prioritise productivity and employee well-being.
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