Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

The government wants to give the Minister power to declare when Australia faces exceptional circumstances (like the current Middle East conflict) that aren't formal national emergencies. When such a declaration is made, the ACCC can allow businesses to work together or act in ways that would normally break competition laws — but only if it genuinely helps the country respond to the crisis and serves the public interest. This amends the Competition and Consumer Act by adding Schedule 1, which creates these new declaration and authorisation powers while including protections: the ACCC must consider consumer harm, Parliament can block declarations, and they automatically expire after a set time. The change matters because it lets companies coordinate during serious crises without facing legal penalties, while still stopping them from using 'exceptional circumstances' as cover for anti-competitive behaviour that just helps their profits.

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