Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Rule Changes

Monitoring new fees that may replace card surcharges; does not enforce network no-surcharge rules

Businesses have not been able to add a card surcharge since 1 October, when the ban took effect for Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and American Express. Some are recovering the cost through prices instead: coffee tracker Small Flat White found 17 per cent of cafes have raised prices since the ban began, by an average of 50 cents.

Updated Oct 21

Built World

As of May 2026: Monitoring east coast gas supply forecasts

Australia exports more liquefied natural gas than any country except the United States and Qatar. Yet its own eastern states face recurring supply shortfalls because 70-80% of production flows to overseas buyers.

Updated May 27

Money Moves

As of May 2026: Reviews the deal under the new mandatory merger regime

Jardine Matheson, the 193-year-old Hong Kong trading house, agreed to buy I-MED Radiology Network from London private equity firm Permira for US$2.4 billion. The all-cash deal hands Jardines control of 215 clinics across Australia and New Zealand that run more than 7 million scans a year.

Updated May 26

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Primary enforcement authority under new regime

For half a century, Australian companies could merge at will and simply inform regulators afterward. That ended January 1, 2026.

Updated May 19