The following milestones represent key aspects in the development and administration of competition and consumer law in Australia:

1906

  • Australian Industries Preservation Act 1906 becomes law – Australia’s first competition law.

1909 to 1913

  • High Court and Privy Council decisions limit the effect of the Australian Industries Preservation Act 1906.

1965

  • Trade Practices Act 1965 becomes law and repeals the Australian Industries Preservation Act 1906.
  • Commissioner of Trade Practices established.

1974

  • Trade Practices Act 1974 becomes law.
  • Trade Practices Commission (TPC) established.

1983

  • Prices Surveillance Authority (PSA) established.

1986

  • Trade Practices (Transfer of Market Dominance) Amendment Act 1986 lowers threshold test, regulates certain overseas mergers, prohibits unconscionable conduct and rewrites product safety provisions.

1992

  • Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Act 1992 narrows the competition test, increases penalties for unconscionable conduct and makes undertakings legally enforceable.
  • International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) established. Australia is one of its first members

1995

  • ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ is established by merging the Trade Practices Commission (TPC) and Prices Surveillance Authority (PSA).

1996

  • National Competition Council (NCC) established. Trade Practices Tribunal renamed the Australian Competition Tribunal.
  • Major reforms result in universal application of the competition principles of the Act across Australia.

1998

  • Franchising Code of Conduct established.

1999

  • A prices oversight regime is established under the Act to make sure there is no price exploitation with the introduction of the GST.

2001

  • ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ Infocentre is established when the GST price help line is absorbed into a general helpline.
  • International Competition Network (ICN) established with the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ a founding member.

2005

  • Australian Energy Regulator (AER) established and is responsible for the regulation of distribution and retailing.
  • Tobacco companies required to fund a $9 million advertising campaign to raise awareness that low yield cigarettes may not be less harmful to a smoker's health than high yield cigarettes.

2006

  • Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce established to increase awareness about consumer scams.
  • ScamWatch website launched.
  • Oil Code and Horticulture Code of Conduct established.

2007

  • Federal Court awards the highest penalties to date in a cartel case, $38 million against Visy Industries Holdings.
  • ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ directed to monitor the prices, costs and profits of unleaded petrol in Australia.

2009

  • Unit Pricing Code of Conduct takes effect requiring grocery retailers to display a unit price to help consumers compare the price of products of different sizes.

2011

  • The Australian Consumer Law begins in January and provides a single law for consumer protection in all state, territory and Commonwealth jurisdictions.
  • Trade Practices Act 1974 becomes the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

2013

  • Successful proceedings against various airlines for cartel conduct, with more than $98 million in penalties awarded - the highest ever cumulative penalties.

2014

  • Competition and consumer law in Australia celebrates its 40th anniversary.

2015

  • The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ welcomes the pro-competition recommendations of the competition policy review, also known as the Harper review.
  • The Federal Court orders Visa to pay a penalty of $18 million for engaging in anti-competitive conduct.

2016

  • The new unfair contract terms law extended to include up to 2 million Australian small businesses.
  • The first criminal charge laid against a corporation under the criminal cartel provisions leads to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), a Japanese shipping company pleading guilty.

2017

  • Parliament passes the misuse of market power legislation to strengthen the ban on the misuse of market power by corporations.
  • A revision of the horticulture code includes tougher penalties for breaches by traders and agents operating in fresh fruit and vegetable markets.

2018

  • Legislation passes to increase maximum financial penalties under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
  • Development of the Consumer Data Right (CDR) begins. This will allow customers to safely share their data with trusted service providers.
  • The most significant compulsory recall in Australian history begins, involving more than 3 million vehicles containing faulty Takata airbags.

2019

  • Federal Court orders Volkswagen to pay $125 million in penalties for making false representations about compliance with Australian diesel emissions standards.
  • ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ publishes its final report for the Digital Platforms Inquiry (DPI).

2021

  • Federal Court orders a record $153 million in penalties against Australian Institute of Professional Education Pty Ltd for engaging in a system of unconscionable conduct, and misleading or deceptive conduct. 

2022

  • World-first mandatory button battery safety and information standards are introduced.
  • The Federal Court orders Google LLC to pay $60 million in penalties for making misleading representations to consumers about collecting and using their personal location data.

2023

  • Record penalties of $438m ordered against Phoenix Institute and CTI for acting unconscionably and misleading students.
  • Changes to the Australian Consumer Law allow courts to impose substantial penalties on businesses and individuals who include unfair terms in their standard form contracts.

2024

  • Competition and consumer law in Australia celebrates its 50th anniversary.
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Reform Bill passes introducing a new regime for notification and approval of mergers and acquisitions.
  • Federal Court orders Qantas to pay $100m in penalties for misleading consumers.

2025

  • The final report for the supermarkets inquiry is released. It includes recommendations to improve conditions for competition in the sector and deliver better outcomes for consumers and suppliers.