THE HON KEVIN HOGAN MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT TREASURER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES
DEPUTY MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PAGE

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING
SENATOR FOR THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE 

LABOR FACE $100M SMALL BUSINESS RED TAPE TEST

The Coalition will move amendments to the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 to shield small businesses from around $100 million a year in new regulatory compliance costs under Labor’s proposed unfair trading regime.

Shadow Minister for Small Business Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the Coalition supports stronger consumer protections, but Labor’s Bill goes too far, too fast, and risks burying small business in more red tape.

“Labor says they want to cut red tape and boost productivity. Today they have a choice: They can either ram through another $100 million a year in red tape on small business, or back the Coalition’s sensible amendments to give some room to breathe.”

“Small businesses are already under enormous pressure from rising costs, weak consumer confidence and Labor’s growing regulatory burden,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

The Bill introduces a new legal test under a ‘general prohibition for unfair trading’. Due to the legal uncertainty from this change, the Government’s own Impact Analysis estimates this provision of the Bill will impose around $100 million a year in regulatory costs on more than 1.5 million small businesses across Australia.

“Our amendments seek to simplify the general prohibition and delay the commencement of these provisions for businesses with an aggregated annual turnover under $10 million until 1 July 2030, giving small businesses the certainty and time they need to prepare.”

Shadow Assistant Treasurer Kevin Hogan said the Coalition’s amendments strike the right balance.

“The Coalition supports stronger consumer protections. Bad conduct should be punished. But small businesses shouldn’t be given the same treatment as big corporations with in-house legal teams and endless compliance budgets,” Mr Hogan said.

“By delaying commencement for businesses with an aggregated annual turnover under $10 million until 1 July 2030, our amendments give small business time to prepare and the new laws time to be tested through the courts before expecting small business to comply.”

“Small business should not be the focus of these changes. Australians deserve laws that protect consumers without imposing unnecessary regulatory costs on small businesses.”

“The Coalition will back sensible consumer protections, but we will not give Labor a blank cheque to load more cost, confusion and compliance onto small business.”

ENDS