Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

The Australian Government is doubling the maximum penalties for companies that break competition and consumer laws, lifting the cap from $50 million to $100 million per breach. The changes affect the Competition and Consumer Act and its Australian Consumer Law, targeting penalties for misleading conduct, cartels (secret price-fixing agreements), and anti-competitive behaviour across all industries. This responds to concerns that current penalties aren't tough enough to deter misconduct — particularly in sectors like fuel where companies might exploit global crises to unfairly hike prices — and brings Australia's penalty levels closer to international standards set by other developed nations.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause