Australians could soon be protected from hidden transaction fees and difficult subscription cancellations under new draft laws released by the federal government. The proposed legislation would require businesses to clearly disclose all fees upfront and provide simple, accessible ways for customers to cancel subscriptions.
Assistant Competition and Treasury Minister Andrew Leigh said the laws aim to stop unfair practices that manipulate consumer decisions, noting that many people only discover extra charges at checkout or struggle to exit subscriptions they easily signed up for. Companies would also be required to send reminders about upcoming subscription payments.
The government first proposed action against unfair trading practices in 2024, including plans to address dynamic pricing, although the latest draft laws do not yet cover that issue. Regulators are expected to receive stronger powers to enforce the new rules and better protect consumers.
Leigh added that the measures, developed with state governments, are intended to ease cost-of-living pressures by ensuring that the price consumers see is the price they pay, while promoting stronger market competition.
