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
There’s more to the cost-of-living race than flinging $$$
With the cost of living continuing to spiral out of control you have to ask who has the guts at…... Read more
A victory formula for Election 2013: Stop the cost
So what are going to be the battleground issues in Election 2013? Leaving aside that the punters may not like…... Read more
Julia gives Libs head start in baby smooching marathon
Is there anything more to be said about Julia Gillard’s September 14 election announcement? Of course there is. As the…... Read more
Severe turbulence ahead on the radar for Qantas
Poor old Qantas. A once great airline is about to get into bed with Emirates, a strong and powerful competitor…... Read more
Consumer dreams reduced to oversized concrete boxes
We have always been told that consumers should be allowed to decide where they should shop so why don’t we…... Read more
Those gasbag retailers have tanked your wallets this year
As the year comes to an end it’s timely to reflect on how you might have been ripped off during…... Read more
A super solution to fix congestion on our roads
Are you sick of being stuck in Sydney traffic for hours? Are you annoyed about the near constant traffic chaos…... Read more
WANTED: A sharp set of pearly whites for this agency
With small businesses across Australia increasingly under threat from the games that can be played by shopping centre landlords, franchisors…... Read more
Due to monopoly a second airport will not pass go
There’s something dreadfully wrong somewhere along the line when Sydney can get a second casino, but not a second airport.…... Read more
Why not an app for real time petrol prices?
Are you sick and tired of the big jumps in petrol prices when one petrol retailer pushes up prices and…... Read more
Who’s afraid of the monster NBN monopoly?
Are monopolies bad? Of course they are! Monopolies are not interested in competition and represent the ultimate market failure. We…... Read more
Franchisors and franchisees shouldn’t fool themselves
As the bricks and mortar retail sector continues to struggle with poor sales and falling profits, there’s growing concern about…... Read more
The people should decide if foreigners can have our farms
Is foreign investment bad? No doubt your view will depend on whether you believe countries have a sovereign right to…... Read more
Small business doesn’t want a talking head
You have to wonder what’s going on when governments turn on the charm towards small business. There’s been a little…... Read more
Bowen arrow shoots, but misses the bullseye
Poor old Chris Bowen, better known lately as the embattled Federal Immigration Minster. What did Bowen do to deserve what…... Read more
Shopping centres must change before it’s too late
Have you ever thought about what consumers want from their shopping experience? Well, identifying what consumers are looking for every…... Read more
Won’t someone think of the poor, greedy shopping malls
Have you ever stopped to think how online competition is so much more efficient than old bricks and mortar competition?…... Read more
City folk are living off their country cousins’ backs
Do you live in regional Australia or do you know someone who does? If you do, then you will know…... Read more
A little less conversation, a little more action please
Have you noticed a little more rhetoric lately from the Federal Government on small business matters? Well, that’s not surprising…... Read more
Councils have to put the ‘strip’ back into shopping
Have you ever been to Balmain in the inner city of Sydney? Or have you been down a suburban shopping…... Read more
Petrol price wars rage on, with no end in sight
So the ACCC announced last week an inquiry into the sharing of petrol pricing information by the oil companies, and…... Read more
Cost of Australian justice spirals out of control
Have you ever been to a lawyer? Have you ever been a party to a Court case? If you have…... Read more
In Sydney pollies must go west to win the rest
There’s no doubt that tackling the escalating cost of living is central to keeping the all-important voters of Western Sydney…... Read more
The price of black gold is white hot in the red heart
Have you ever been to Alice Springs? Well, if you have you will know that the Alice is the heart…... Read more
A lazy government body that needs to get moving
Have you ever dealt with the ACCC? Have you ever had an issue that you thought the ACCC should be…... Read more
Small business needs a heavyweight in Cabinet, Julia
With the ALP’s leadership tussle over for now, it’s time for the Federal Government to get back to the much…... Read more
Spank the banks, Wayne!
Poor old Wayne Swan! He may be the world’s best treasurer but he can’t get the big banks to be…... Read more
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
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
