OAIC sweep highlights ad-tech privacy risks: Determinations against Medmate and Monash IVF’s use of tracking pixels
OAIC sweep highlights ad-tech privacy risks: determinations against Medmate and Monash IVF’s use of tracking pixels The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has drawn a clear line in the sand regarding the use of online tracking technologies in Australia, in its recent determinations following commissioner-initiated investigations into Medmate Australia Pty Ltd (Medmate)[1] and […]
ReadmoreGame of chance: July 2026 permit fee changes
Australian trade promotion regulators have increased permit application fees, effective 1 July 2026. Here is a practical refresher on where and when permits are required for games of chance in Australia and an outline of the new fees. Authored by: Antoine Pace, Partner Crystal Lee, Paralegal Jade Lamb, Paralegal Madison Sullivan, Paralegal
ReadmoreACCC blocks Coles’ proposed Kalgoorlie supermarket: Implications for shopping centre developers, owners and managers
The ACCC has determined that Coles must not put into effect its proposed acquisition of a leasehold interest for a new supermarket site in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia. The decision is significant for shopping centre owners, developers and managers because it shows that supermarket anchor tenant arrangements, including proposed leases over greenfield sites, may attract detailed […]
ReadmoreSmall businesses as the next frontier: Treasury consults on extending the unfair trading ban
The Federal Government has released a consultation paper examining whether the forthcoming unfair trading practices prohibition should be extended to protect small businesses and franchisees. The proposal, which was previously foreshadowed by the Government in 2025, signals a potentially significant expansion of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and would reshape expectations for business‑to‑business conduct across the […]
ReadmoreCoordination in a crisis: ACCC receives extended authorisation powers
On 13 May 2026, and with limited prior notice, the Federal Government introduced into the Senate the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026, proposing a significant expansion of the ACCC’s powers to authorise coordination between competitors during crisis conditions. After passing the Senate the next day, it passed the House of […]
ReadmoreConsumer Express | May 2026 Edition
In the May 2026 edition of Consumer Express, we unpack the legal developments most relevant to businesses operating in an increasingly complex consumer environment, with a focus on the regulatory reforms and emerging risks shaping the landscape ahead. This edition covers the Federal Government’s proposed prohibition on unfair trading practices, including new rules targeting subscription […]
ReadmoreACCC v Coles: When ‘Was/Now’ pricing crosses the line
The Federal Court’s recent judgment in Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd provides a detailed, fact‑sensitive framework for assessing dual‑price promotions. The decision is important for retailers and suppliers because it explains how courts will evaluate whether a “Was” price supports a consumer’s reasonable inference that a later “Now” price […]
ReadmoreDoubled maximum penalties for competition and consumer law breaches raise compliance stakes
In response to rising fuel prices, the Federal Government has significantly increased the financial consequences of not complying with Australian competition and consumer law by, most notably, doubling one limb of the maximum financial penalties from $50m to $100m per contravention. This follows on from a significant increase in penalties in 2022. While the Treasury […]
ReadmoreTripping the wire: New voting power triggers in Australia’s merger control regime
The number of transactions caught by Australia’s new merger control regime is set to expand considerably. While much attention has focused on Australia’s shift to mandatory merger notification, the introduction of new voting power thresholds under the new regime creates tripwire risks for dealmakers. On 1 April 2026, share acquisitions that complete on or after […]
ReadmoreAustralian mandatory merger control: Key implications
The introduction of mandatory merger control in Australia introduces the biggest change in Australian deal mechanisms in decades. From 1 January 2026, Australia moved from a largely voluntary merger clearance system to a mandatory merger control regime. Certain acquisitions of shares, units or assets that meet prescribed thresholds must be notified to the Australian Competition […]
ReadmoreAustralian M&A: A review of 2025 and outlook for 2026
In 2025, Gadens’ Corporate team advised on over 50 M&A transactions totalling more than AUD3.8 billion. This marked an increase on 2024 and reflects the breadth of our involvement across the Australian M&A market throughout the year. In this year’s edition of our Australian M&A review, we examine the key trends and developments that shaped […]
ReadmoreNew prohibitions on unfair trading practices on the horizon
Following the release of two Decision Regulation Impact Statements (DRISs) in December that proposed significant reforms to the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), the Australian Government is following through with the first tranche of those reforms, releasing draft legislation that targets unfair subscription practices, ‘drip pricing’ and conduct that unreasonably distorts the decision environment for the […]
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