Government proposes merger law reforms

Treasurer, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers, has announced proposed changes to Australia’s merger laws. These include a single mandatory merger clearance process, with clearance determined by the ACCC and subject to review by the Australian Competition Tribunal (with further judicial review available in the Federal Court)

Significant changes to the substantive test are also proposed

• See The Treasury, Competition Review: Mergers (including reform consultation and reform paper)

• See The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP and The Hon Andrew Leigh MP, ‘Merger reform for a more competitive economy’ (Media release, 10 April 2024)

• See ACCC media release.