18 August 2025
Australia’s competition watchdog has warned that the race to net zero must not come at the cost of competitive markets.
In a keynote address to the Carbon Market Institute Summit, ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said while collaboration and scale will be critical in building clean energy systems and low-carbon infrastructure, the transition must avoid creating entrenched monopolies that could stifle innovation.
“History shows how monopolies born of ambition and innovation can harden into structures that resist change,” Cass-Gottlieb said, pointing to past examples such as Standard Oil and AT&T. “As economies pivot toward low-emissions technologies and infrastructure, we must learn from the lessons of the past.”
The ACCC chief stressed the role of competition law enforcement in safeguarding markets during the transition. She cited the $30 million fine against Bingo Industries for cartel conduct in the waste sector, and recent greenwashing proceedings against Australian Gas Networks, as examples of the regulator’s approach.
Cass-Gottlieb also highlighted the flexibility of Australia’s competition law, which allows exemptions for sustainability collaborations where environmental benefits outweigh potential harms. In 2024, one in three applications for authorisation involved environmental benefits.
On mergers, she cautioned that climate-aligned investment deals still require scrutiny to ensure they do not lessen competition, recalling the regulator’s finely balanced assessment of Brookfield’s bid for Origin Energy.
“Our role is not to stand in the way, but to stand guard,” Cass-Gottlieb said. “Competitive markets are vital to ensure resources are allocated efficiently, innovation is incentivised, and the costs of change are mitigated.”
Source: https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/news/speeches/keynote-address-at-carbon-market-institute-summit
