The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) marked its 30th anniversary at the inaugural Australian Competition Summit 2025, with chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb (pictured) delivering a keynote address examining the evolution of competition law and the responsibilities of regulatory leadership - and a significant drop in public trust.
In her address, Cass-Gottlieb pointed to a global decline in public trust toward institutions and regulators, referencing recent survey data that indicates widespread perceptions of systemic inequity and uncertainty about future prosperity.
Within Australia, she noted, heightened scrutiny of sectors such as aviation, supermarkets, and digital services reflects both economic pressures and rising expectations that competition should deliver real benefits to consumers in terms of price, choice, and service.
Cass-Gottlieb emphasised that the objective of competition policy is to improve community welfare, not simply to promote competition for its own sake.
She said: “It is more important than ever that we deliver on our mandate… and that we ensure that our work delivers outcomes that are valued by the communities we serve.”
The event, organised in partnership with Monash University, brought together competition law professionals and policymakers to consider both historical lessons and emerging challenges.
Cass-Gottlieb began by acknowledging the significance of the ACCC’s formation in 1995, which followed major reforms in the early 1990s that expanded the reach of competition law and introduced new regulatory frameworks.
She recounted her own involvement in the telecommunications sector during this period, highlighting the ongoing relevance of regulatory design and market entry challenges, even as technology and business models have shifted.
“Thirty years ago, I was closely engaged in the reforms to move Australia from monopoly to duopoly in telecommunications services. I had provided advice to the Commonwealth Government on the rights and immunities of carriers to be legislated to enable rapid expansion of telecommunications networks,” Cass-Gottlieb said.
Cass-Gottlieb discussed the ACCC’s enforcement approach, which combines litigation, compliance engagement, and enforceable undertakings to address conduct that harms competition or consumers.
She referenced recent actions, including an enforceable undertaking related to resale price maintenance and a settlement with Google over breaches of competition law.
The ACCC has also pursued cartel cases in sectors such as construction and food supply, with several recent court decisions supporting the regulator’s actions.
In addition, Cass-Gottlieb described the ACCC’s use of data analysis and partnerships with government agencies to proactively identify and prevent anti-competitive conduct, such as bid rigging in public procurement.
She pointed to international examples where competition authorities have adopted advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to detect collusion.
Cass-Gottlieb concluded by calling for ongoing collaboration among regulators, policymakers, and industry professionals to address the challenges of technological disruption, market concentration, and public trust.
She stressed the importance of evidence-based, proportionate enforcement and regulatory design.
“By sharing our experiences and learning from each other, we advance our stewardship of competition policy and law at a pivotal time,” Cass-Gottlieb said.
