Cross-appointment to the New Zealand Commerce Commission
Hon Paul Goldsmith
Hon Scott Morrison
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Treasurer
of the Commonwealth of Australia
8 December 2015
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Cross-appointment to the New Zealand Commerce
Commission
New Zealand Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith and Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison today announced the expansion of cross-appointments between the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Commissioner Sarah Court of the ACCC has been appointed as an associate member of the NZCC until 30 April 2018, to correspond with the end of her term at the ACCC. Ms Court fills the position left by ACCC cross-appointed member Dr Jill Walker, who was appointed as a member of the NZCC in July and will begin her appointment on 1 December.
NZCC Chair Dr Mark Berry is the NZCC cross-appointed member at the ACCC.
Both Ministers were pleased the ACCC and NZCC are cooperating closely on competition and consumer issues, reducing business compliance costs for those operating on both sides of the Tasman.
“The
cross-appointment arrangement between the ACCC and NZCC has
helped ensure there is alignment and consistency,
particularly in considering proposed merger cases that
affect markets in both jurisdictions.
“The
cross-appointment of Sarah Court enables the NZCC and ACCC
to coordinate their approach to consumer law enforcement,
given the recent reforms of consumer legislation in both
countries,” said Mr Morrison.
“Sarah Court has
acknowledged expertise in both competition and consumer law
areas and I am sure the NZCC will benefit from her
participation in the NZCC’s Consumer and Commerce Act
Divisions, where similar matters have been under
investigation in Australia,” said Mr Goldsmith.
“Jill Walker has proven to be a valuable asset to the NZCC, given her extensive expertise in trade practices and anti-trust economics, and is well regarded both in New Zealand and overseas. I am very pleased she will continue to contribute as a member to the NZCC,” he added.
The cross appointments at associate member level between the NZCC and ACCC began in 2010 to align the administration and enforcement of competition law to promote a Single Economic Market between New Zealand and Australia.
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