Frank Zumbo
Frank Zumbo is an Associate Professor within the School of Business Law and Taxation at the University of New South Wales. Frank has been a tireless consumer advocate and is one of Australia’s leading commentators on competition, consumer and franchising law.
During the past 20 years Frank has been at the forefront of business law reform. This has included drafting the “Birdsville Amendment” to effectively outlaw predatory pricing, as well as drafting the proposed “Blacktown Amendment” requiring that companies charge the same low price for the same product in all their retail outlets in the same area.
His research and professional activities are focused on competition and consumer law; franchising and Business Ethics. He has been closely involved in promoting effective laws against unethical corporate behaviour and in ensuring that Australia has the best possible competition and consumer laws.
Frank has served in an expert capacity on Federal and State Government Advisory Committees and is a longstanding adviser to Governments, Members of Parliament, and industry associations on business law and policy issues
Articles by Frank Zumbo
Save up your pocket money if you wanna park in CBD
Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre…... Read more
Time for an inquiry into this bunch of bankers
Poor old bankers. They keep telling us how tough it is for them with their funding costs expected to go…... Read more
A tip off on stopping the Big Petrol rip off
Here we go again. Another festive season and yet another petrol rip off! A ridiculously unaffordable scenario Now for some…... Read more
Zumbo’s wrap: What 2011 meant for small business
As 2011 fast comes to an end it’s timely to reflect on the significant policy reforms that gave small businesses…... Read more
Regional Australia is being shafted at the bowser
Have you ever driven around regional Australia and found large discrepancies in the petrol prices at different regional centres? Do…... Read more
Law: the ultimate monopoly
Have you ever taken a case to court? Are you a small business person who has taken a franchisor or…... Read more
Here’s how Qantas can win back customers
How would you feel if you were the Qantas CEO and people were telling you loudly that they loved Virgin…... Read more
WANTED: A tough cop on the small business beat
Finally, we have a government willing to stand up for small business in the face of hysterical opposition from the…... Read more
When a politician spins, nobody wins
Are you getting better at distinguishing between political spin and substance? You probably are given the growing number of Federal…... Read more
Small businesses aren’t muppets. They’re a BIG deal.
We always hear about how important small business is to the economy, but we don’t often hear about governments standing…... Read more
The high salaries and low morals of corporate Australia
Is it right that foreign employees of an Australian company get paid Third World wages while foreign managers of the…... Read more
The itch to switch is still not easily scratched
Here we go again - another bank switching package from Wayne Swan. Has Swan got it right this time? Well,…... Read more
Washed-up suits should go on gardening leave
Should the ACCC’s chairman or its commissioners be able to leave their government position on Friday and start work a…... Read more
ACCC boss departs not with a bang but a whimper
Well, the time has come for Graeme Samuel to finish up as ACCC Chairman. His departure will no doubt provoke…... Read more
We need CarbonWatch to stop price gouging
With the debate raging about the carbon tax and whether the initial carbon price of $23 will lead to any…... Read more
Carbonomics is nice in theory but does it add up?
With the debate on the carbon tax getting very emotive it’s essential to understand the economics of the tax and…... Read more
It’s not Singapore slinging us at the petrol pump
Are you sick of being ripped off at the petrol pump? Are you annoyed that despite ample oil supplies on…... Read more
Time to get serious about escalating living costs
Are you fed up with paying more and getting less for a whole range of goods or services? Are you…... Read more
Sack the petrol commissioner - we’re paying too much
Are you fed up with costly political gimmicks by the Federal Government? Well, you should be as those gimmicks are…... Read more
Why you’re getting ripped off in Aussie stores
As the Aussie dollar has surged in recent months it’s clear that those buying online from overseas websites are enjoying…... Read more
New ACCC chief will need to tackle the top end of town
Graeme Samuel is set to go at the end of his second term as Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman.…... Read more
Woolworths the fresh booze people
So the ACCC has allowed another acquisition that over time will be detrimental to competition and consumers. If you were…... Read more
Lower prices mean a cosy club with fewer players
Well, well, some politicians never cease to amaze us. Just when you thought all was lost with competition law and…... Read more
The NBN juggernaut could turn into a white elephant
As the National Broadband Network juggernaut rolls on, one has to wonder if any thought has been given to the…... Read more
The death of brands is much closer than you think
The so-called supermarket milk price war is not the only thing heating up. The debate surrounding the future of brand…... Read more
Let’s get medieval on insurance company’s arses
With the fate of the proposed flood levy hanging in the balance as we await the outcome of negotiations between…... Read more
Don’t be fooled, the supermarkets are milking us
With Australia continuing to have some of the fastest growing food prices in the developed world, you have to wonder…... Read more
Swan’s bank package is a fizzer
Have you had a close look at Wayne Swan’s December 2010 bank package? Don’t worry if you haven’t yet as…... Read more
A cosy club: Why we pay more at the store
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and successive governments have failed to curb retailers’ increasing market power, which is why…... Read more
Why petrol is so freakin’ expensive during the holidays
Were you watching petrol prices in the lead up to Christmas 2010? If you were, then you would have noticed…... Read more
NBN: A potential national financial disaster?
Will the NBN ever be financially viable? The short answer is most likely “No”. If there were suspicions in the…... Read more
12 things Wayne Swan can do to tackle the Big 4 banks
As the public anger against the four big banks continues, we wait with an air of expectation for Wayne Swan’s…... Read more
Time for federal govt to penalise rogue franchisors
With Australian franchising under threat from the rogue franchisors giving the sector a bad name and destroying the livelihood of…... Read more
How Swan can actually make the banks pay
As the four big banks continue to act as a law unto themselves it’s time for Wayne Swan to match…... Read more
Our toothless consumer watchdog
Have you ever wondered what impact our competition regulator, the ACCC, is really having? Well just ask around small business…... Read more
Exposing the franchising trap
Have you or anyone you know owned a franchised business? If not, are you considering buying a franchised business? More…... Read more
The great import rip-off: why isn’t everything cheaper?
Have you been getting excited at the rise of the Aussie dollar? Well, you should be. Of course, those planning…... Read more
So who really is the new Labor competition minister?
While enjoying a nice Saturday afternoon news came through that Julia had announced her new ministry. Immediately this author combed…... Read more
Three cheers for a hung parliament
As we patiently await the formation of the next federal government we should pause to reflect on what a hung…... Read more
Big banks laughing all the way to the… bank
With the Commonwealth Bank announcing a record profit last week you have to wonder if the big banks are laughing…... Read more
This town ain’t big enough for two petrol sheriffs
Do you know that we have an ACCC Petrol Commissioner? If so, do you know the person’s name and what…... Read more
Craig, let’s discuss your shortcomings over coffee
Federal Small Business Minister, Craig Emerson has taken the Federal Government’s spin and smear approach to policy issues to new…... Read more
Transparent fuel and grocery prices: time for another go?
Have you ever wondered where you can buy the cheapest petrol or groceries? Well, if you have, then you would…... Read more
So who really is campaigning for small business?
Well, well, you know that there is an election coming when politicians get a bit more sensitive. That’s the thing…... Read more
Somebody needs to stand up and protect small business
While small businesses and franchisees are the engine room of the economy, it’s disappointing that only lip service is currently…... Read more
Is anyone really standing up for small business?
While politicians are always quick to say “feel good” things about small businesses being the “engine room” of the economy,…... Read more
National broadband network: fact or fiction
Will we ever get a viable “national broadband network” or NBN? Well, that depends on how Senator Stephen Conroy, the…... Read more
Why Australian motorists are still under the pump
With petrol prices on the rise again and a federal election fast approaching, the Federal Government is scrambling to get…... Read more
People get Costco, but does the Minister?
Do consumers want cheaper prices and greater product choices? Of course they do and that’s why it is essential that…... Read more
Buyer beware cause business is getting its way
With consumers already being let down so badly on grocery issues by Mr Rudd and his Competition Minister Craig Emerson,…... Read more
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La dole cheque vita is not so sweet on $16 a day
Your task is simple. Here is $115.50. It must last one week. You have no savings, no assets, but thankfully…
Those greedy ATMs gobble up more than your card
We’ve been talking a lot about interest rates this week. And the 30 per cent of us who have mortgages…
Wrap of the week: It’s the economy, stupid
There is a touch of Lleyton Hewitt about Julia Gillard. It is not merely that both are redheads or that…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Punch on: Open thread 09/02/2012
marley says:
I'm one of the older ones, so I've certainly seen a few changes in my time. When I started school I learned to write with a nib pen, dipped in an inkwell (no, I'm not kidding). My mother became a dab hand at getting inkstains out of my clothes. Flicking ink at one another in the classroom was an essential… [read more]From: I’d rather have a piece of toast than listen to crap lyrics
Erick says:
Led Zeppelin are responsible for my all-time favourite mixed metaphor: "There you sit, sit and stare, like a book on a shelf rusting." (Misty Mountain Hop) I laugh every time I hear it. Hmmm, I believe I've decided what to play on the way to work today. [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
No wuckin forries. These nuckin futs are tuckin fops
Well, puck me with a fitchfork. The F-word is apparently an acceptable part of Australian speech. That’s… Read more
