FED: Govt getting tough with cartel behaviour

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2006
FED: Govt getting tough with cartel behaviour

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - The federal government will crack down on serious cartel behaviour
by allowing whistleblowers to receive immunity from prosecution in the early stages of
antitrust investigations.

The plans were flagged by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock at an antitrust conference
in Sydney yesterday, The Weekend Australian Financial Review reports today.

Under the plan, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will amend its
immunity policy to ensure criminal cartel investigations were more effective, the paper
says.

The changes, part of the joint immunity arrangements being developed by the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Commonwealth DPP, will help bring the
prosecution of cartels into line with international best practice.

The offence would apply to both individuals and corporations and to businesses of
all sizes, the papers said.

The moves come amid the corporate watchdog's lengthy and controversial cartel prosecution
on civil charges against billionaire Richard Pratt's Visy Industries.

AAP af/rs

KEYWORD: WHISTLEBLOWERS

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