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Understanding how long unpaid debts remain on Australian credit reports is crucial for managing financial reputation and planning recovery from financial difficulty. This comprehensive guide examines retention periods for defaults, court judgments, bankruptcy information, and other credit listings, while explaining the regulatory framework that governs credit reporting in Australia.

In its judgement delivered on 14 May 2026, the Federal Court has found that Coles engaged in misleading conduct in relation to its long-running “Down Down” promotion, accepting the ACCC’s case that many advertised discounts were not genuine. The Court held that 13 of the 14 sample “Down Down” tickets examined in the hearing conveyed false or misleading price discount representations because the stated “was” price had not applied for a reasonable period before the promotion.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has initiated Federal Court proceedings against Amazon AU, alleging that subscription contracts for Amazon Prime contain unfair terms allowing significant service changes...

Australian businesses face dramatically increased penalties for competition and consumer law breaches, with corporate fines now reaching $50 million and individual penalties rising to $2.5 million. The unfair contract terms regime has been strengthened with new pecuniary penalties applying for the first time, creating urgent compliance obligations for businesses using standard form contracts. Companies that have not yet audited their contracts against these expanded obligations are now operating at signific

AI enabled decision making systems are being increasingly used to determine dynamic pricing, assess credit eligibility, prioritise search results, and moderate content (among other decisions).

Misleading pricing occurs when a business creates a false or misleading impression about the true cost of goods or services, even where the advertised price is technically correct. Under the Australian Consumer Law, businesses must ensure consumers can understand the real price they will be required to pay, including any unavoidable fees, charges, surcharges or conditions affecting price.

On 14 May 2026, the Federal Court of Australia (the Court), in a prosecution commenced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), found that Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Coles)...

From 1 October 2026, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos can ban businesses from adding surcharges to card transactions, enforced through merchant agreements.

The Federal Court of Australia has ruled that Coles Supermarkets' 'Down Down' promotional pricing was misleading to consumers, despite the advertised prices being factually accurate. The case examines whether temporary price increases followed by promotional discounts constitute genuine savings, and establishes critical standards for how long a higher price must be maintained before retailers can legitimately advertise it as a discount reference point.

When should businesses initiate a voluntary product recall, and what legal obligations must they fulfill under Australian Consumer Law? This article examines the circumstances requiring recall action, outlines the mandatory notification process to the ACCC, and explores preventative measures businesses can implement to minimize product safety risks.

How much time can government agencies reasonably claim when refusing FOI requests on resource grounds? A recent Information Commissioner decision examines DFAT's 113.75-hour processing estimate for sanctions-related documents, clarifying when complexity, sensitivity and specialist review requirements justify substantial resource claims under section 24AA of the FOI Act.

This monthly roundup examines five significant NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions from August 2026 that clarify critical aspects of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999, including payment claim validity, procedural fairness in adjudications, and enforcement of judgment debts. The cases address contentious issues such as the 12-month limitation period for payment claims, the relevance of unpaid judgment debts in security for costs applications, and the scope of sec

The Queensland Government has launched a comprehensive review of its Financial Provisioning Scheme for the resources industry, examining whether the current framework adequately balances environmental rehabilitation risks with industry growth and investment opportunities. Stakeholders from across the mining sector, investment community, and landholders are invited to provide feedback on the scheme's effectiveness and potential improvements.

The Australian government has released an exposure draft of the Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026, introducing sweeping changes to privacy law including broader definitions of personal information, codified consent standards, and a new 72-hour data breach notification requirement. With reforms touching everything from geolocation data to erasure rights, organisations face a compressed timeline to uplift their privacy frameworks before these provisions become law.

Recent NSW court decisions are establishing new protections for residential owner-occupiers under the Security of Payment Act, with judges granting stays on enforcement where contractors pose insolvency risks. These rulings recognize that residential owners face fundamentally different risks than commercial parties, cushioning the impact of legislation originally designed for business-to-business construction disputes.

AUSTRAC's section 167 notices represent a powerful investigative tool that can compel Tranche 2 entities to prove their AML/CTF compliance through documentary evidence. While much attention has focused on implementing compliance frameworks, the real test comes when organisations must substantiate their efforts under regulatory scrutiny. Can your business prove what it claims to have done?

The Fair Work Commission is set to reconsider the Road Transport Contractual Chain Order, with hearings scheduled for September 2026 amid ongoing fuel cost pressures. Industry stakeholders are divided on whether the order should be re-enlivened or revoked, while principals and contractors are already receiving notices about potential fuel cost pass-throughs from downstream parties.

Recent reforms to NSW work health and safety legislation have fundamentally changed how businesses must manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace. With approved codes of practice now operating as mandatory standards from July 2026, organisations face heightened scrutiny over workload management, organisational change, and workplace culture.

Government agencies routinely acquire land with easements, but who bears responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure? This bulletin examines the often-overlooked question of repair and maintenance obligations for easement-related infrastructure, exploring both express contractual terms and common law principles. Understanding these hidden liabilities is crucial for government land management and acquisition due diligence.

The NSW Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 has passed both houses and received assent, introducing significant reforms to building regulation and insurance requirements. Key changes include expanded coverage for Decennial Liability Insurance, enhanced powers for NSW Fair Trading and the Building Commission, and modifications to professional indemnity insurance exemptions for building practitioners. While some provisions take immediate effect, major reforms including the DLI expansion