Australia’s Proposed Digital Competition Regime
Nicholas Felstead
Australian Business Law Review
Nicholas Felstead, ‘Australia’s Proposed Digital Competition Regime’ (2025) 53 Australian Business Law Review 40
Abstract
The Australian Government recently proposed a new “Digital Competition Regime” to address the anti-competitive and exploitative conduct that thrives in the digital economy. Recognising that existing laws and regulatory tools are unable to keep up with the pace of technological advancement, the proposed regime would introduce ex ante regulatory obligations for designated digital platforms with a critical position in the Australian economy. Australia is seeking to act as a “fast follower” in the race to rein in large digital platforms, drawing on best practices in other national and supranational regimes. At its best, regulation can spur innovation while protecting consumers and markets from anti-competitive behaviour. This brief article will review the proposed regime and argue that it represents a positive step towards responsible regulation of the digital economy.