On 7 September, 2026, the Australian Government released its proposed legislation – Competition and Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026 – which will ban non‑compete clauses in employment contracts for low and middle income Australian workers, with some exceptions. Businesses affected by the proposed ban can make submissions to the Government on the draft Bill until 2 October 2026 via https://consult.treasury.gov.au/
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The ACCC has issued its Compliance and Enforcement Priorities for 2026 to 2027. The ACCC will be focusing on various business and consumer sectors including Supermarkets and retail, Digital markets and Essential services, telecommunications, electricity, and gas
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On 25 March 2025, the Australian Government announced a proposal to ban non-compete clauses for employees earning less than the high-income threshold. The Government has consulted on the reform to non-compete clauses and on potential additional reforms to other restraints on workers. In this article, Stephens Lawyers and Consultants discusses a recent case which demonstrates why non-compete clauses should be maintained in employment contracts.
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In this Legal Update, Stephens Lawyers & Consultants looks at three (3) major risk areas faced by businesses for breach of the Australian Consumer Law which arise out of the ACCC’s 2025-26 compliance and enforcement priorities and offers guidance on some steps that businesses can consider implementing to minimise risk of non-compliance with the Australian Consumer Law.
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Recent cases show that failure by businesses to ensure that environmental sustainability marketing claims are accurate can result in legal action being taken by regulators for false representations and misleading and deceptive conduct exposing the company and its directors to significant penalties and compensation claims.
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