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What a US approach to obstruction charges could teach Australian antitrust regulators
21 October 2019 00:00
Duration: 13:10
Australian steel-product manufacturer BlueScope Steel is embroiled in two court cases brought by the country’s competition regulator. The company’s former manager Jason Ellis is involved in both cases --- alleged attempted cartel conduct and criminal obstruction charges. Obstruction charges are often used in the US to aid cartel probes, but it’s the first time the measures have been used in Australia in this context.
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18 October 2019 00:00 by Laurel HenningAustralia’s competition regulator could use criminal obstruction charges leveled at former BlueScope Steel manager Jason Ellis as an example for future cartel probes, an ex-US Department of Justice official has said.
Editorial Team
James Panichi Senior Editor, Asia Pacific

James, an Australian journalist with over 25 years’ experience in print and electronic media, is spearheading MLex’s coverage of regulatory risk in Australia and New Zealand. In 2016, James was appointed as MLex’s managing editor for continental Europe, overseeing the Brussels bureau’s coverage of EU regulatory affairs and managing a team of 16 journalists in Brussels and Geneva. Previously James worked for the European Voice newspaper, before joining the European operation of US political website... Read more
Laurel Henning Senior Correspondent

Laurel is a senior correspondent covering data privacy and security, antitrust and mergers and acquisitions across Australia and New Zealand. Prior to that, Laurel spent a year spearheading MLex’s activist investment coverage, looking at boardroom disputes and shareholder campaigns agitating for changes to company strategy. Laurel joined MLex in 2013 and reported for five years on European energy and climate policies from Brussels. In that time, Laurel covered the regulation of emissions and technological developments... Read more