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About merger reform
On 28 November 2024, the Australian Parliament passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024.
The new merger regime will start on 1 January 2026 but will also allow for merger parties to start using the new system on a voluntary basis from 1 July 2025.
New merger controls
The new rules and processes for mergers will be a major change for the ACCC, business and consumers.
Australia will move from a judicial enforcement model to a primarily administrative model. The ACCC will be the first decision maker on each notified acquisition. It will provide more certainty, clarity, and transparency.
Changes that business should expect as the new merger controls start are detailed in the statement of goals.
Changes include:
- faster decisions
- greater transparency
- clear notification requirements for all parties
- clear transition path from existing to new merger regime
- streamlined processes.
Goals of merger reform
The Statement of Goals for Merger Reform Implementation outlines the goals and objectives for delivering these merger reforms.
As we progress with merger reform implementation, we will provide further information and updates on this page.