HouseDivision 3 · 25 May 2026

Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026 - Consideration in Detail - No retrospective application + sunset clause

Not passed45 aye · 97 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Page MP Kevin Hogan (Nationals), which means it was unsuccessful.

The amendments would remove the retrospective application of the bill. The government has introduced this bill with a 1 April 2026 retrospective start date, but we don't have any detail or any explanation of why that date is needed. We're happy to work constructively with the government on these issues, but this is a matter of competition law, and we don't know if there's been a breach of the law that the government is aware of. This amendment would remove the retrospectivity of the law. The amendments would also introduce a sunset clause to the bill. The changes to the bill would sunset on 2 July 2026. This would allow for the bill to be passed, a proper inquiry to occur and then the legislation to remove the sunset clause if appropriate.

Amendment text

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 1), omit "Sections 1 to 3", substitute "Sections 1 to 4".

(2) Page 2 (after line 12), after clause 3, insert:

4 Sunsetting of amendments

The amendments made by Schedules 1 and 2 are repealed on 2 July 2026.

(3) Schedule 1, item 4, page 5 (line 2), omit "may", substitute "must not".

(4) Schedule 1, item 4, page 6 (lines 20 to 22), omit "which may be before the commencement of this section, but must not be before 1 April 2026", substitute "which must not be before the commencement of this section".

(5) Schedule 1, item 5, page 10 (lines 1 to 3), omit "which may be before the commencement of this section, but must not be before 1 April 2026", substitute "which must not be before the commencement of this section".

(6) Schedule 1, item 6, page 12 (lines 1 to 3), omit "which may be before the commencement of this section, but must not be before 1 April 2026", substitute "which must not be before the commencement of this section".

Context written by They Vote For You volunteers (ODbL), reproduced unchanged.

Consideration in detail: Consideration in detail examines a bill part by part in the House. Divisions at this stage decide specific amendments to the bill's text.

Related bills

Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	0	92
Liberal–National Coalition	39	0
Independent	6	3
Centre Alliance	0	1
Australian Greens	0	1

Every vote

AYE (45)

NO (97)

Other divisions this sitting day

What the House divided on around this vote, in order.

25 May 2026Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Reference to CommitteeHouse 48–94
25 May 2026Questions without Notice - Veterans - Member for Herbert Phillip ThompsonHouse 105–39