By Saloni Sinha ( June 5, 2026, 08:37 GMT | Insight) -- Mastercard’s defense is built on "misdirected" analysis that fails to address the central question in the case, which is whether the company used discounts on credit-card transactions to discourage merchants from routing debit-card payments through rival Eftpos, the Australian competition regulator told a court on Friday as an eight-week antitrust trial wrapped up. In a Federal Court hearing, lawyer John Sheahan, acting for the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, delivered his final response to Mastercard’s closing arguments.Mastercard’s defense is built on "misdirected" analysis that fails to address the central question in the case, which is whether the company used discounts on credit-card transactions to discourage merchants from routing debit-card payments through rival Eftpos, the Australian competition regulator told a court on Friday as an eight-week antitrust trial wrapped up....
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