The purpose of this issues paper is to invite written submissions from interested parties to assist the ACCC in understanding the current nature of general search services, how market dynamics have changed since the third interim report, and how these changes may impact competition and consumer issues or give rise to new concerns.

This report summarises key policy issues, and draws on inquiry submissions, to develop a set of recommendations on price and competition policy which, if adopted, would substantially improve competition and decrease the price pressure faced by Australian consumers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been undertaking an inquiry into Digital Platform Services since 2020. Matters being considered by the Inquiry include competition in markets for the supply of digital platform services, practices of suppliers of digital platform services which may result in harm and how innovation and technology change may affect...

The authors of this paper argue that where competition policy is insufficient, new types of public ownership structures should be considered, in order to align business decisions with the public interest and macroeconomic stability.

This inquiry examined the nature and extent of international digital platforms operated by large overseas-based multinational technology companies—so called ‘Big Tech’— exerting power and influence over markets and public debate, to the detriment of Australian democracy and users.