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🏛 House of Representatives3 readingsAmendments circulated
Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) 2024
✦ Plain-English Summary
# Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) 2024
## What it does
This law tightens the rules around when large companies can buy or merge with other companies in Australia. It gives the competition regulator (the ACCC) stronger powers to review and block deals that might reduce competition and harm consumers. The changes roll out in stages over the next 18 months.
## Why it matters
When big companies merge unchecked, they can raise prices, cut services, or squeeze smaller competitors out of the market. Stronger merger rules mean the ACCC can stop problematic deals before they happen, rather than trying to undo damage later. This protects consumers and smaller businesses.
## Key details
- **Staggered implementation**: Some changes start immediately after the law passes, others kick in from 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026. This gives companies time to adjust.
- **Increased penalties**: From 1 January 2026, companies that give false or misleading information during a merger review face tougher fines.
- **Broader reach**: The rules now apply across more industries, including airports, telecommunications, and financial services—sectors where big players have outsized influence.
Official Description
Amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to replace the existing framework for mergers review with a mandatory and suspensory administrative system for acquisitions, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as the first instance administrative decision-maker. Also makes consequential amendments to 5 Acts.
Committee Referrals
Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Audit History
Last updated on APH
10 Apr 2026
Last checked by Crossbench
today
🗳️No formal division recorded
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