What was debated in Parliament
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This bill adds a general ban on unfair trading practices to the Australian Consumer Law, covering conduct that manipulates consumers or unreasonably distorts their choices and causes harm. It also requires mandatory fees to be shown alongside the advertised price, and makes subscriptions clearer and easier to cancel, starting from 1 July 2027. Most speakers supported the rules on hidden fees and subscription traps, and the debate focused on how broad and clear the general ban is, its cost for small business, and whether it should cover financial services.
Arguments made in support
The Government said some harmful practices, like fake countdown timers or hard-to-find cancel buttons, fall short of being misleading or unconscionable, leaving a gap in the law.
Government members said unwanted subscriptions cost Australians an estimated $971 million a year, and cancelling should be as easy as signing up.
Supporters said showing all mandatory fees upfront helps honest businesses that already show the full price, and does not ban fees themselves.
The Government said the ACCC and 17 consumer groups backed the bill, and the ACCC will provide guidance with an education-first approach.
The Greens, One Nation and independent Monique Ryan supported the bill as better than the current law.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Coalition speakers said the general ban is vague and could lead to costly court cases, with Treasury estimating over $100 million a year in costs for small businesses.
The Coalition moved amendments to add 'unfairly' before 'manipulate' and 'material' before 'detriment', and to delay the rules for small businesses until 2030; the Government opposed them.
The Greens moved amendments to cover financial services and name 'lead generation' as unfair, citing regulators' support; the Government said financial services may come later.
Monique Ryan said the general ban may be too narrow to enforce, no single total price is required, and bigger issues like market concentration are left out.
One Nation said the broad ban hands too much power to the regulator to decide what is unfair.
90 speeches by 35 members in the House and Senate over 6 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 1 Apr 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 12 May 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 13 May 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 14 May 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 1 July 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 2 July 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Australia's Voice
0 Yes
0 No
1–
The last column counts members who did not vote. Party counts are for current members.
2 votes were cast by people who have since left Parliament.
Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.