ComCom to tackle dodgy bids in construction sector

Cover pricing, which involves collusion among builders to come up with believable but false bids for jobs to favour a particular company, falls foul of the Commerce Act, the regulator said. The research was initiated to test the sector's knowledge of competition provisions.

"Our research indicates a low level of understanding of competition issues by those in the construction sector," said Kate Morrison, general manager of enforcement.

"In particular, the research indicates that a practice known as cover pricing is occurring."

The announcement comes a little over a month after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake devastated the Canterbury region, and caused $2 billion worth of damage to non-residential property, though the research was completed before the September 4 disaster.

The quake will help stoke a construction sector in the doldrums as the value of commercial property consents sank 23% to $296 million in the 12 months ended August 31. Fletcher Building, which recently won the contract to project manage Canterbury's rebuild for the Earthquake Commission, fell 0.4% $8.25.

The commission said it won't launch an investigation into the sector, and will focus on raising awareness around fair competition practices. It will investigate specific complaints if tabled. Under the act, companies can be fined up to $10 million for each breach, or three times the value of any commercial gain or 10% of annual turnover.

Morrison said the campaign would draw also attention to the commission's leniency policy, which encourages participants in anti-competitive arrangements to report misconduct in exchange for immunity.