On 15 November 2024, the Treasury released a consultation paper on the design of proposed general and specific prohibitions on unfair trading practices. Options to amend the Australian Consumer Law will be considered and agreed in consultation with States and Territories.

The main areas of focus identified in the paper are:

subscription-related practices;
drip pricing practices and hidden fees;
dynamic pricing;
online account requirement;
barriers to accessing customer support; and
dark patterns.

The consultation paper aims to address any consumer and small business harm arising from the potential gaps in the Australian Consumer Law.

The Government encourages that you provide a submission to the consultation process by Friday 13 December 2024 if you would like to express your views on the proposed prohibitions on unfair trading practices.

Please visit the Treasury website to access the consultation paper. Submissions may be lodged electronically or by post however electronic lodgement is preferred.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this topic please feel free to contact Alicia Hill.

Alicia Hill
Principal
T: +61 3 9611 0180 | M: +61 484 313 865
E: ahill@sladen.com.au

Inshani Ward
Senior Associate
T: +61 3 9611 0110 | M: +61 413 557 157
E: iward@sladen.com.au

Samuel Zhang
Law Graduate
E: szhang@sladen.com.au