Watchdog Recap 2024 | ACCC in Review

Welcome to the Maddocks Watchdog Recap 2024, our annual examination of enforcement and regulatory activity by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and how well it performed against its announced enforcement priorities.

Our chapters focus on highlights from key developments and major cases during 2024, and what is next in competition and consumer law. Our report features areas of significant change, including consumer markets, retail and franchising, merger reform, as well as key focus areas such as cost-of-living and essential services. In an ever-evolving ACCC enforcement landscape, our experts will guide you through crucial developments to stay informed and ahead of the curve.

• Watchdog Recap 2024 - What’s happened & what’s ahead

  Welcome to our ninth ACCC publication, reviewing the ACCC’s enforcement priorities activity in 2024.

• Consumer markets, retail and franchising

  By

  • Greg Hipwell,
  • Mira Martin

  Last year we saw less ACCC activity in franchising, but a new version of the Franchising Code of Conduct will take effect on 1 April 2025.

• Misleading or deceptive advertising

  By

  • Shaun Temby,
  • Elizabeth Ireland

  Examining investigations and proceedings around online reviews and ratings, price comparisons and consumer guarantees.

• Cartel and anti-competitive conduct

  By

  • Gina Wilson,
  • Jacinta Atkinson

  The ACCC continued with its enduring priorities of deterring and punishing cartel and anti-competitive conduct.

• Merger reform

  By

  • Wolfgang Hellmann

  The ACCC actioned major changes in this area last year, and a new mandatory pre-merger notification regime will take effect on 1 January 2026.

• Cost of living

  By

  • Isabelle Heath
  • & Rebecca Power

  This was a major focus for the ACCC in 2024, with some high profile targets.

• Essential services: gas and energy

  By

  • Peter Limbers,
  • Alena Stirton
  • & Meaghan Little

  Last year’s ACCC enforcement priorities were largely fulfilled with an ongoing monitoring role.

• Essential Services: Telco

  By

  • Sonia Sharma
  • & Dominic O’Sullivan

  The ACCC was committed to ensuring consumers had access to affordable telecommunication services.

• Consumer data and digital platforms enquiry

  By

  • Sonia Sharma
  • & Leila Liu

  Consumer and fair trading issues relating to digital economies and platforms remained a key enforcement priority.