ACCC looking at potential TPA breaches in BER rorts
Fri, 4 Jun 2010
This week, under questioning by Liberal Senator for Tasmania, David Bushby, the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) acknowledged that it is aware of reports of conduct in the delivery of contracts under the Building Education Revolution (BER) that could, if proven, constitute anti-competitive conduct.
Accordingly, the ACCC has stated it is looking into these reports with a view to assessing whether any of these alleged actions would be in breach of competition law – particularly anti-cartel laws.
"During Estimates hearings last night the ACCC said they were looking at allegations of anti-competitive conduct caused by the government's badly managed BER," Senator Bushby said.
The ACCC are unable to say how or what they are looking into, as is normal with their investigations, but nonetheless, the widespread reported rorting has come under the gaze of the ACCC and if evidence is found, could result in serious action and repercussions for those involved in such behaviour under the abysmally managed scheme.
Senator Bushby said he would be encouraging anyone with details that might support the proper investigation of anti-competitive cartel behaviour in the delivery of the $16 billion BER scheme, to refer those details to the ACCC.
He also called on Julia Gillard to fully cooperate and, indeed, offer any information she or her Department has that would assist the ACCC establish whether any breaches have in fact occurred.
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