On 9 February 2026, the federal government released for comment draft legislation on Unfair Trading Practices.
The draft laws would amend the Australian Consumer Law by:
· introducing a general prohibition on conduct that unreasonably manipulates consumers or distorts the environment they make decisions in, causing detriment
· providing protections against unfair subscription practices, including requiring businesses to improve information disclosure and simplify cancellation processes
· improving protections against hidden fees by requiring businesses to disclose mandatory transaction fees.
If the laws pass, they will start on 1 July 2027.
The draft legislation and the explanatory materials are available here: https://consult.treasury.gov.au/c2026-739506
The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) is coordinating a joint response across the consumer sector. If you are a consumer organisation and would like to sign-up to the joint submission, please contact CPRC at office@cprc.org.au.
The consultation closes on 23 February 2026.