James Hardie Industries will pursue discussions with the competition regulator to try to resolve a dispute over the supply of its building products in Australia. Hardie wants distributors to sign exclusive supply agreements for five of its new building products, such as weatherboard and flooring.

However, the ACCC has formed the view that the proposed new distribution policy, the subject of the notification, would have the effect of substantially lessening competition in the market for the supply and manufacture of fibre cement products and that it would not result in a net public benefit.