新西兰商务委员会主席约翰·斯莫尔博士表示，非法串标行为每年给纳税人造成约3.6亿美元的损失。监管机构已启动针对公共采购中卡特尔行为的全新打击行动。
New Zealand's Commerce Commission chair Dr John Small said illegal bid-rigging is costing taxpayers around $360 million a year. The regulator has launched a fresh crackdown on cartel behavior in public procurement.
新西兰商务委员会已启动针对公共采购中非法价格固定和串标的全新打击行动。委员会主席约翰·斯莫尔博士表示，此类卡特尔行为每年给纳税人造成约3.6亿美元的损失。
New Zealand's Commerce Commission has launched a fresh crackdown on illegal price-fixing and bid-rigging in public procurement. Commission chair Dr John Small said such cartel behavior costs taxpayers roughly $360 million a year.
斯莫尔表示，参与投标的公司秘密协调以抬高价格并扭曲竞争。委员会表示将加强其豁免计划，以更好地保护举报人。
Small said companies bidding for contracts have secretly coordinated to inflate prices and distort competition. The commission said it will strengthen its immunity program to better protect whistleblowers who come forward.
过去在建筑和基础设施领域的案例构成了此次新举措的重点。官员表示，任何被发现的违规行为都将面临重大财务处罚。
Past cases in the construction and infrastructure sectors form the focus of the new initiative. Officials said significant financial penalties will apply to any violations that are detected.