Overview

This unit introduces students to the Australian law’s response to anti-competitive conduct. It proceeds on the basis that, as a general rule, competition produces economic, social and political benefits for society as a whole and that, therefore, anti-competitive conduct should be prohibited or regulated. The unit will focus on the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). However, it will also examine competition law from an international perspective. The aim of this unit is to enable students, through the study of cases, statutes and other material, to acquire a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of, and competence in, Australian competition law and policy.

Requisites

Prerequisites
LAW20036 Competition Law and Policy

Rule

75 credit points in Law units

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
08-July-2024
06-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
21-July-2024
Census date
02-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
23-August-2024
Results released date
29-October-2024
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Describe and evaluate Australian competition law and related policy debates
  • Identify and describe the economic concepts embedded in Australian competition law to determine the appropriate outcome
  • Apply competition law to factual situations and effectively advise and communicate with clients and others about their rights and obligations
  • Conduct competition law related research and use the results of that research in the development of a legal argument
  • Contribute to the preparation of a legal argument in a group

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
3.00 12 weeks 36
Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Various
8.50 12 weeks 102
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 50 - 70% 1,2,3 
Online TestsIndividual 10 - 20% 1,2,3,4 
PresentationGroup 20 - 30% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • The restraint of trade doctrine
  • The goals of competition law
  • The economics of competition law 
  • Cartels and other anti-competitive agreements
  • Exclusive dealing
  • Misuse of market power
  • Resale price maintenance
  • Mergers and acquisition
  • Authorisation and notification
  • Enforcement, penalties and remedies
  • European and US perspectives

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.