The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched a new online tool for the agriculture sector to anonymously report concerns about competition or fair trading issues.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
ACCC Commissioner Mick Keogh outlined the benefits during a NSW Farmers address on Thursday.
“Farmers in the horticulture and viticulture industries have expressed concerns about potential retribution from others in the supply chain if they contact the ACCC,” Mr Keogh said.
“This easy-to-use, secure and anonymous channel allows farmers to report potential breaches of laws the ACCC enforces.
“This could include, for example, suspected breaches of the new Horticulture Code of Conduct.
“People can now contact our agriculture team from any web-enabled device such as a PC, smart phone, laptop or tablet.
“The tool encrypts the information and removes the person’s IP address so their identity is kept anonymous.
“The ACCC won’t know who is contacting us.”
People can also obtain a password to log back into the online tool and communicate anonymously with the ACCC about their concerns.
The ACCC will use the information it receives through the tool to form the basis of potential investigations into the conduct reported to them.
“I encourage anyone in the agriculture sector with concerns about negative consequences from contacting the ACCC about fair trading or competition issues to use this new tool,” Mr Keogh said.
The ACCC said it preferred its standard contact form as the best way for people to contact it.
