Small Business Welcomes Newly Strengthened Trade Practices Act

The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), representing 100,000 retail motor trade businesses with a combined turnover of over $120 billion and which employ over 316,000 people, has, since its inception, advocated for legislation that restores lost fairness and competition to the marketplace. MTAA thus welcomes the Senate’s passage of the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007 and congratulates the Government for introducing further amendments on predatory pricing behaviour.

 The Bill, which includes the ‘Birdsville Amendments’ proposed by Senator Barnaby Joyce, clarifies the operation of aspects of the market power provisions and now will also provide, subject to the Courts, rights for small business in relation to predatory behaviour in the marketplace. MTAA believes that a stronger Trade Practices Act 1974 will be of benefit to not only small business, but to our Society more broadly, by ensuring a diversity of competitors and choice for consumers.

The Association would particularly like to thank Senator Barnaby Joyce (Nationals) and Senator Steven Fielding (Family First) for their commitment to small business and their efforts in securing a fair trading environment that benefits all Australians.  MTAA commends the Opposition, Family First and the Australian Democrats for their proposed amendments and thanks all Senators for their support of small business.

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For further information please contact Michael Delaney, Executive Director of MTAA on
(02) 6273 4333.