NZ Competition Update - Commerce Amendment Bill

Parliament's Commerce Committee has recently reported back on the Commerce Amendment Bill (the Bill).

The Bill amends Part 4 of the Commerce Act 1986. Part 4 provides for goods and services to be made subject to government control, including price control, although the Bill uses the word ‘regulation’ in place of the current Act’s ‘control’. The Bill:

• Repeals the current Part 4 and Part 4A (relating to electricity lines) and deals with all regulated goods and services in a single and much-expanded new Part 4.
• Provides for price regulation for gas pipeline services (with the exception of certain pipelines set out in a Schedule to the Bill).
• Makes certain airport services subject to information disclosure regulation under the Bill. Currently airports are subject to information disclosure requirements under the Airport Authorities Act 1966.