COSBOA gains power to fast-track SME complaints to ACCC in new system
Australia’s competition watchdog will fast-track major complaints from small businesses, after industry lobby COSBOA was inducted into its all-new warning system.
Australia’s competition watchdog will fast-track major complaints from small businesses, after industry lobby COSBOA was inducted into its all-new warning system.
On Wednesday, Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh and Minister for Small Business Julie Collins confirmed COSBOA, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, will become a ‘designated complainant’ to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The scheme permits COSBOA, along with newly designated complainants Consumer Action and CHOICE, to submit their concerns about systemic competition issues in the Australian economy.
Once received, the ACCC must respond to those complaints within 90 days and confirm if further action is necessary.
The fast-tracked complaints system sidesteps the existing ACCC complaints system, allowing advocacy groups to highlight the systemic competition issues they believe warrant immediate attention.
All three organisations will act as designated complainants until June 1, 2027.
COSBOA CEO Luke Achterstraat welcomed the impending scheme in April, declaring it an important opportunity for local entrepreneurs.
“Small businesses continue to face barriers in doing business through current anti-competitive behaviour and difficult market conditions,” he said.
While confirming COSBOA would register for designation, he said the scheme should expand to include more designated complainants, and allow more than one complaint within a 12-month timeframe.
The designated complaints update is one element of several competition updates championed by the Labor government, following on from the rolling Treasury competition review system, commitments to overhaul the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, and stronger powers for the ACCC over proposed mergers.
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