At a time when cost‑of‑living pressures are biting, Australians should be able to trust that markets are fair, transparent and not stacked against them.
That is why today the Albanese Government will introduce the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026, a major reform to ban unfair trading practices that cost time, money and confidence.
The Bill will introduce a ban on unfair trading practices, crack down on drip pricing, and put an end to subscription traps. We're putting a stop to business tactics that rely on confusion, design tricks, needless friction or sheer consumer exhaustion.
Our work on unfair trading practices does not stop here. We have already commenced targeted consultations on extending protection from unfair trading practices to small businesses and franchisees. We are also considering whether further steps are appropriate in the financial services sector, ensuring we do not overlook areas where consumers may be exposed to potential gaps.
This Bill is part of the Albanese Government's wider agenda to strengthen competition, improve transparency and support consumers, including:
- Increasing penalties ten‑fold to $100 million, making clear that breaching consumer and competition law is not a line item on a balance sheet, but a serious offence with serious consequence
- Reforming Australia's merger regime to make the system quicker, more efficient and more targeted
- Strengthening the unit pricing code and cracking down on shrinkflation, so Australians can see when product sizes shrink even if the price does not.
- Boosting funding for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to act on misleading pricing and other unfair practices.
- Increasing maximum penalties under the Competition and Consumer Act, so breaches can no longer be dismissed as a mere cost of doing business.
- Reforming non‑compete clauses and restrictive employment terms to improve job mobility and build a more dynamic economy.
- Revitalising National Competition Policy, supported by the $900 million National Productivity Fund, to tear down outdated commercial and industrial planning and zoning barriers, build a single national market and streamline standards and occupational licensing.
These reforms build on years of thoughtful advocacy from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and consumer groups including the Consumer Policy Research Centre, the Consumer Action Law Centre, CHOICE and community legal centres. Their evidence, persistence and real‑world insights have helped shape a stronger, fairer framework. The reforms have also been developed with the strong backing of State and Territory Consumer Affairs Ministers. They will take effect from 1 July 2027.
Quotes attributable to the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers MP
"We're introducing legislation to ban unfair trading practices and help ease the cost of living for Australians.
"Whether it's traps that make it difficult or confusing to cancel a subscription, hidden fees and charges at different stages of a purchase, deceptive or manipulative practices online or making it difficult for people to report problems with their products or services, we're going to toughen the rules.
"Most businesses do the right thing by Australians and they've got nothing to worry about.
"This is all about cracking down on dodgy deals to save Australians money if we can, and where we can."
Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh MP
"Today we are drawing a clear line: if a business relies on confusion, friction, fine print or fatigue to get ahead, that is not healthy competition.
"Good businesses should succeed by offering better products and better service, not by building more cunning traps.
"The Albanese Government's approach is simple: more competition and more transparency, so Australians get a fairer deal."
