Consumer 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 traps, drip pricing and hidden fees, as well as the next phase of unfair contract terms reform and the signals for further regulatory expansion. We also examine the new mandatory merger notification regime now in effect and provide practical guidance on the Personal Property Securities Register.

Further, our team explores recent changes to Commonwealth Procurement Rules and what they mean for foreign-owned companies, the regulatory frameworks governing influencer marketing in Australia, and obligations under the Online Safety Act for businesses operating online. We analyse the landmark Bunnings facial recognition decision and the evolving privacy expectations for retailers deploying these emerging technologies, the High Court’s decision in the Katie Perry trade mark dispute, and the rising challenge of customer driven violence as a legal and work health and safety imperative.

Partner Breanna Davies and the Gadens team have prepared this edition to help your organisation stay informed and ahead of the curve in an increasingly regulated consumer environment.

We hope you find the May 2026 edition of Consumer Express both informative and valuable. See the full publication below.

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With special thanks to our contributors: 

Adam Walker, Partner
Breanna Davies, Partner
David Fleming, Partner
Dudley Kneller, Partner
Kelly Griffiths, Partner
Kiri Jervis, Partner
Lara Cresser, Partner
Louise Rumble, Partner
Mitchell Wright, Partner
Savannah Hardingham, Partner
Siobhan Mulcahy, Partner
Clementine Woodhouse, Special Counsel
Brittany Dorney, Senior Associate
Ellen Baker, Senior Associate
Erin Cassidy, Senior Associate
Kevin McVeigh, Senior Associate
Lisa Haywood, Senior Associate
Samuel Manns, Associate
Lucy Hardyman, Lawyer
Robert McIntyre, Lawyers
Charlotte Cheng, Graduate
Emilie Reddish, Graduate
Natalie Lambropoulos, Graduate
Sebastien Butler, Graduate
Jasmine Waddell, Trade Mark Attorney