Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

This amendment strengthens consumer protection by giving the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) new powers to crack down on unfair trading practices — things like misleading advertising, hidden fees, and deceptive contract terms that currently fall into grey areas of the law. It modifies the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to define and prohibit these unfair practices more clearly, making it easier for regulators to act quickly without having to prove a business deliberately misled consumers. For everyday shoppers and small businesses, this means better protection against tricks and traps in contracts, clearer rules about what companies can and cannot do, and faster action when something goes wrong — without needing to wait for court cases that can take years.

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