Competition Law (LAWS50063)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Teaching staff:
Wendy Ng (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Competition law concerns the preservation and promotion of competition in Australia. As a critical component of micro-economic policy, this field of law is underpinned by economic theory and is primarily (though not exclusively) driven by economic goals. This subject focuses on the regulation of anti-competitive practices under Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). In particular, it examines the regulation of mergers and acquisitions, the misuse of market power, and horizontal and vertical restraints.
This subject also addresses the policies and practices involved in enforcing competition law and considers contemporary global competition law and policy issues and some international and comparative perspectives. This subject not only ensures that students have an advanced understanding of the technical aspects of this legal specialty, it also enables them to critically analyse the law from both policy and practical perspectives and introduces them to an interdisciplinary approach in the study of law, through the introduction and application of economic concepts and theories in a legal context.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students will have:
An integrated understanding of the following specialised topics:
- the policy objectives of legislating to regulate anti-competitive practices;
- the economic concepts and theories relating to markets, competition, and competition law;
- the interpretation and application of the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to regulating anti-competitive conduct; and
- the roles played by regulatory authorities and courts in enforcing the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the controversies that arise in connection with enforcement practices and outcomes.
Additionally, students will have:
- the ability to critically assess the impacts of competition law and regulation on businesses, consumers, markets, and the economy;
- a sophisticated insight into the political dimensions of competition regulation and their consequences for the content and enforcement of the law;
- an advanced ability to undertake statutory interpretation and case analysis through construing the complex provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and reviewing the cases in which those provisions have been applied;
- developed specialised skills in oral communication and in particular, in the articulation at a sophisticated level of arguments and views concerning the subject material; and
- through the assessment by examination, demonstrated a clear ability to construct and communicate in writing a sophisticated argument based on understanding the facts, identifying the issues, analysing the applicable law and applying the law to the facts in a way akin to the process undertaken by competition lawyers in practice.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students should have developed their skills in the following ways:
- Specialist understanding, interpretation, critical reflection, synthesis and comparison of the statutory text governing competition law in Australia;
- Specialist understanding, interpretation, critical reflection, synthesis and comparison of the cases relating to competition law and enforcement in Australia;
- Analysing, comparing and reflecting critically on policy documents relating to competition law and enforcement in Australia;
- Critically evaluating proposals for reform of Australian competition law and enforcement having regard, amongst other things, to international comparisons;
- Formulating and articulating views on difficult technical issues relating to competition law and enforcement in oral discussion in class, in a manner displaying the development of professional judgment; and
- The capacity to grasp a new set of facts, identify the legal/economic problem that arises on the facts, and identify and apply the relevant law in response to the problem, showing the kind of professional expertise and judgment of the kind that would be required in practice as a competition lawyer.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50025 | Torts | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
3 hour examination
| During the examination period | 90% |
Additional details
The timing of centrally managed final examinations can be found when the exam timetable is made available.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Wendy Ng Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1 x 3hr Seminar each week Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Teaching staff:
Wendy Ng (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota. Please refer to the Juris Doctor enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment and subject quotas. Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for inbound study abroad and exchange students.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (available online);
Close to the teaching period, students will be advised about any other specialist reading materials. Make sure to check Canvas LMS in the lead-up to the study period.
Recommended texts and other resources
- Alex Bruce, Australian Competition Law (LexisNexis Butterworths, 5th edition, 2025);
- Yane Svetiev, Corones’ Competition Law in Australia (Thomson Reuters, 8th edition, 2023);
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025