Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Australia's primary competition regulator, conducting ongoing gas market inquiries since 2017. - Monitoring east coast gas supply forecasts

Australia exports more liquefied natural gas than any country except the United States and Qatar. Yet its own eastern states face recurring supply shortfalls because 70-80% of production flows to overseas buyers. Queensland, the source of most east coast gas, just opened the Taroom Trough—potentially the nation's first major new oil province in 50 years—with a mandate that any discoveries must serve Australian households first.

Updated Feb 10

Australia's competition and consumer protection regulator with powers to review and block anticompetitive mergers. - Primary enforcement authority under new regime

For half a century, Australian companies could merge at will and simply inform regulators afterward. That ended January 1, 2026. Now businesses must notify the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission before closing deals that meet certain thresholds—and wait for approval. Miss the requirement and your acquisition is automatically void, with penalties on top.

Updated Jan 1