DSPANZ provided a submission to Treasury's consultation on the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 on 23 February 2026.
In this submission, we supported the objective of strengthening protections against genuinely harmful trading practices, including subscription traps and drip pricing. Clear, proportionate and technology-neutral regulation is essential in maintaining trust in the digital economy while supporting innovation and competition.
Our submission focused on ensuring the reforms provide:
- Clarity in the interpretation and application of the new general prohibition
- Proportionate treatment of digital subscription models
- Practical and flexible implementation pathways
- Early and detailed regulatory guidance to support compliance.
We also emphasised the importance of timely Australian Competition and Consumer Commissioner (ACCC) guidance to provide certainty to businesses as they adapt billing systems, customer dashboards, and subscription management processes ahead of the commencement.