Partner Liana Witt and lawyer David Holmes take us through the Australian government's plan to prohibit unfair trading practices -- with all the low-down on subscription traps and drip pricing, the tests and the penalties, and how businesses can prepare for the new rules. Plus, the ACCC's compliance and enforcement priorities for 2026-27, what's going down down down at the Coles pricing hearing, and even more changes to the US antitrust landscape … All this and Buffalo buffalo with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein.   

Links:   
The Garden Palace Fire of 1882 
G+T on the ACCC's compliance and enforcement priorities for 2026-17 
Lian and David on the government's unfair trading practices proposal 
Buffalo buffalo and had had had had 
New York Times on Gail Slater's departure from the Antitrust Division 
What is a possession arrow in basketball or merger review? 
We're All Going to the World's Fair trailer 
Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition, Consumer + Market Regulation team 
Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au  

  

Partner Liana Witt and lawyer David Holmes take us through the Australian government's plan to prohibit unfair trading practices --&nbsp;with all the low-down on&nbsp;subscription traps and drip pricing, the tests and the penalties, and how businesses can prepare for the new rules.&nbsp;Plus, the ACCC's compliance and enforcement priorities for 2026-27, what's going down&nbsp;down&nbsp;down&nbsp;at the Coles pricing hearing, and even more changes to the US antitrust landscape &hellip;&nbsp;All this and Buffalo&nbsp;buffalo&nbsp;with co-hosts&nbsp;Moya Dodd&nbsp;and&nbsp;Matt Rubinstein.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Links:  &nbsp;
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/fire" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/fire&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Q7UlvPgwS7de_57P9GT3T">Garden Palace Fire</a>&nbsp;of 1882&nbsp;</li>
<li>G+T on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gtlaw.com.au/insights/the-acccs-2026-27-priorities" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gtlaw.com.au/insights/the-acccs-2026-27-priorities&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vYuKbv3RjGo_f9a0KDQxL">the ACCC's compliance and enforcement priorities</a>&nbsp;for 2026-17&nbsp;</li>
<li>Lian and David on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gtlaw.com.au/insights/dark-patterns-to-face-the-light-of-day-unfair-trading-practices-targeted-in-proposed-acl-reforms" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gtlaw.com.au/insights/dark-patterns-to-face-the-light-of-day-unfair-trading-practices-targeted-in-proposed-acl-reforms&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2dw-ji52gusMdLQRX6hX9z">the government's unfair trading practices proposal</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0aZ0SHWTjE6tbmiZBzNDAD">Buffalo buffalo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_while_John_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_a_better_effect_on_the_teacher" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_while_John_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_a_better_effect_on_the_teacher&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw29Iv9eOwdCAxrVL6t1FqGa">had had had had</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>New York Times on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/technology/gail-slater-antittrust-justice-department.html" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/technology/gail-slater-antittrust-justice-department.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1-cI8ouWDBh2Tp_GNLgrwG">Gail Slater's departure from the Antitrust Division</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>What is a&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/oIbpPxa58pU" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/oIbpPxa58pU&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2dxzMsKXCiiyDXVqsecgHB">possession arrow</a>&nbsp;in basketball or merger review?&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/_17BEuP2o0A?t=36" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/_17BEuP2o0A?t%3D36&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2FdQFhCevyyK-KLjHYM8y-">We're All Going to the World's Fair</a>&nbsp;trailer&nbsp;</li>
<li>Meet the Gilbert + Tobin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gtlaw.com.au/expertise/competition-and-regulation" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gtlaw.com.au/expertise/competition-and-regulation&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772695979456000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1JCi3Au4osMh8pFuUymOWI">Competition, Consumer + Market Regulation</a>&nbsp;team&nbsp;</li>
<li>Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:edge@gtlaw.com.au">edge@gtlaw.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;

Get the lowdown on developments in competition law in Australia and around the world with The Competitive Edge, a competition law podcast. Each fortnight Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein explore insights and trends with our resident experts and special guests to give you the competitive edge. 

Get the lowdown on developments in competition law in Australia and around the world with The Competitive Edge, a competition law podcast. Each fortnight Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein explore insights and trends with our resident experts and special guests to give you the competitive edge.&nbsp;

The Competitive Edge

Get the lowdown on developments in competition law in Australia and around the world. Gilbert + Tobin’s Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein explore insights and trends with leading experts to give you the competitive edge.

Get the lowdown on developments in competition law in Australia and around the world. Gilbert + Tobin&rsquo;s Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein explore insights and trends with leading experts to give you the competitive edge.

The World's Fair: Liana Witt and David Holmes on Australia's new unfair trading practices proposal 

Hodgekiss Competition Law Conference

Ampol/EG Australia cleared in Phase 2

Progress of Unfair Trading Practices Bill

AI practice notes (and encyclicals)

Interview with Professor Julian Wright

Wrap up

Professor Julian Wright from the National University of Singapore joins us to talk about competition and regulation up and down the AI stack -- from the chips to the chatbots and everything in between. Is it winner-takes-all or winner-takes most? Will the digital platforms displace the new labs? And do we need more regulation or less? Plus a competition conference is compliantly considered, Ampol/EG Australia is the first Phase 2 merger approved by the ACCC, the new-look unfair trading practices bill reaches parliament, and AI essays and encyclicals abound … All this and cinematic polycephaly with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein. 

 

Links:  
Michael B Jordan on playing identical twins Smoke and Stack in Sinners 
Three-eyed animals in Train Dreams and The Secret Agent 
ACCC approves Ampol's acquisition of EG Australia in first finalised Phase 2 
Track the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 
Damien Charlotin's AI Hallucination Cases Database 
Justice Needham, "AI and the Courts in 2025" 
Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical Letter, "Magnifica Humanitas" 
Prof Julian Wright, "Artificial Intelligence and Competition Policy" at ScienceDirect 
Anna Goldsworthy's Quarterly Essay, "The God We Made: The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence" 
The Competitive Edge's cryptic crosswords, conspicuously inspired by Justice Wigney 
Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition, Consumer + Market Regulation team 
Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au  

Professor Julian Wright from the National University of Singapore joins us to talk about competition and regulation up and down the AI stack -- from the chips to the chatbots and everything in between. Is it winner-takes-all or winner-takes most? Will the digital platforms displace the new labs? And do we need more regulation or less? Plus a competition conference is compliantly considered, Ampol/EG Australia is the first Phase 2 merger approved by the ACCC, the new-look unfair trading practices bill reaches parliament, and AI essays and encyclicals abound &hellip; All this and cinematic polycephaly with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Links: &nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="2">Michael B Jordan on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2025-12-22/michael-b-jordan-sinners-smoke-stack-ryan-coogler">playing identical twins Smoke and Stack</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;Sinners&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="2">Three-eyed animals in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Oscars/comments/1rs89oj/just_noticed_two_of_the_2026_best_picture/">Train Dreams&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Secret Agent</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="2">ACCC approves&nbsp;<a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-approves-ampols-acquisition-of-eg-australia-subject-to-conditions">Ampol's acquisition of EG Australia</a>&nbsp;in first finalised Phase 2&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="2">Track the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7468">Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="2">Damien Charlotin's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.damiencharlotin.com/hallucinations/">AI Hallucination Cases Database</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="2">Justice Needham,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/digital-law-library/judges-speeches/justice-needham/needham-j-20250627">"AI and the Courts in 2025"</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="2">Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical Letter,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html">"Magnifica Humanitas"</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="2">Prof Julian Wright,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167718725000013">"Artificial Intelligence and Competition Policy"</a>&nbsp;at ScienceDirect&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="2">Anna Goldsworthy's Quarterly Essay,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2026/06/the-god-we-made">"The God We Made: The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence"</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="2">The Competitive Edge's&nbsp;<a href="https://crossword.info/edge">cryptic crosswords</a>, conspicuously inspired by Justice&nbsp;Wigney&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="2">Meet the Gilbert + Tobin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gtlaw.com.au/expertise/competition-and-regulation">Competition, Consumer + Market Regulation</a>&nbsp;team&nbsp;</li>
<li data-aria-posinset="12" data-aria-level="2">Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:edge@gtlaw.com.au">edge@gtlaw.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Smoke and Stack: Professor Julian Wright on competition and regulation up and down the AI stack. 

ACCC v Coles was/now pricing claims judgment

Mayfield and derivative Crown immunity

Federal Budget & competition initiatives

FIFA World Cup competition and consumer issues

Interview with Dr Lilla Csorgo

Dr Lilla Csorgo, lay member of the High Court of New Zealand, joins us to talk about being Chief Economist in three different countries, approaches to ex ante regulation and merger control, being approximately correct vs precisely wrong, and whether fiction and economics have anything in common. Plus, the ACCC wins against Coles in its “was/now/had been” pricing case, the courts have thoughts on NSW Ports, competition and consumer initiatives in the federal budget, and competition and consumer concerns at the FIFA World Cup … All this and e-micromobility with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein.    

Links:   
Henry Ergas, "TSLRIC, TELRIC and Other Forms of Forward-Looking Cost Models in Telecommunications: A Curmudgeon's Guide" at SSRN 
Softwar by Thierry Breton and Denis Beneich at The Internet Archive 
Prose and plays by Dr Lilla Csorgo  
ACCC v Coles [2026] FCA 598  
Mayfield v NSW Ports [2026] HCA 21 Summary and Judgment 
"Why Susie sells seashells by the seashore: Implicit egotism and major life decisions", Journey of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(4) 469-487 
Why all fire trucks are called Dennis 
Discover your Hogwarts House at Hatty Potter Wizarding World 
Julien Guyon, "Risk of Collusion: Will Groups of 3 Ruin the FIFA World Cup?" 
The Disgrace of Gijon on YouTube 
Meet the Gilbert + Tobin Competition, Consumer + Market Regulation team 
Email us at edge@gtlaw.com.au  

Dr Lilla Csorgo, lay member of the High Court of New Zealand, joins us to&nbsp;talk about being Chief Economist in three different countries, approaches to&nbsp;ex ante&nbsp;regulation and merger control, being approximately correct vs precisely wrong, and whether fiction and economics have anything in common.&nbsp;Plus, the ACCC wins against Coles in its &ldquo;was/now/had been&rdquo; pricing case, the courts have thoughts on NSW Ports, competition and consumer initiatives in the federal budget, and competition and consumer concerns at the FIFA World Cup &hellip;&nbsp;All this and e-micromobility with co-hosts&nbsp;Moya Dodd&nbsp;and&nbsp;Matt Rubinstein.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Links:  &nbsp;
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Henry Ergas, "<a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1430248" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id%3D1430248&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw194s-PjdHf_wXOR5zKSMwW">TSLRIC, TELRIC and Other Forms of Forward-Looking Cost Models in Telecommunications: A Curmudgeon's Guide</a>" at SSRN&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://archive.org/details/softwar00bret" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://archive.org/details/softwar00bret&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0YVBxPFD1Xsa0qhOX6NUnz">Softwar</a>&nbsp;by Thierry Breton and Denis Beneich at The Internet Archive&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://lilla.ca/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lilla.ca/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1iFD7SomDCjWDLUgBO_7rG">Prose and plays</a>&nbsp;by Dr Lilla Csorgo &nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2026/2026fca0598" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2026/2026fca0598&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_hf5F_Qewvdm1XRp5B0ZZ">ACCC v Coles&nbsp;[2026] FCA 598</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Mayfield v NSW Ports&nbsp;[2026] HCA 21&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hcourt.gov.au/sites/default/files/judgment-summaries/2026-05/hca-12-2026-05-06.pdf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hcourt.gov.au/sites/default/files/judgment-summaries/2026-05/hca-12-2026-05-06.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw22smZNTnVIGx5MfW-jT2xu">Summary</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-judgments/judgments/judgments-1998-current/mayfield-development-corporation-pty-ltd-v-nsw-port-operations-hold-co-pty-ltd" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-judgments/judgments/judgments-1998-current/mayfield-development-corporation-pty-ltd-v-nsw-port-operations-hold-co-pty-ltd&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2247j7VF79couJZ7XbtP12">Judgment</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>"<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-12744-001" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-12744-001&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1fVNZVV9mUKifkNWws4cay">Why Susie sells seashells by the seashore: Implicit egotism and major life decisions</a>",&nbsp;Journey of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(4) 469-487&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://historicvehicles.com.au/historic-truck-brands/dennis-and-dennis-eagle/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://historicvehicles.com.au/historic-truck-brands/dennis-and-dennis-eagle/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2zKOZIoZ518M5Xg2TOVQFX">Why all fire trucks are called Dennis</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.harrypotter.com/news/discover-your-hogwarts-house-on-wizarding-world" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.harrypotter.com/news/discover-your-hogwarts-house-on-wizarding-world&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw12QhvZ7qguc9IFMSjZqICu">Discover your Hogwarts House</a>&nbsp;at Hatty Potter Wizarding World&nbsp;</li>
<li>Julien Guyon, "<a href="https://www.sloansportsconference.com/research-papers/risk-of-collusion-will-groups-of-3-ruin-the-fifa-world-cup" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sloansportsconference.com/research-papers/risk-of-collusion-will-groups-of-3-ruin-the-fifa-world-cup&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3FVmkQda1hOMtjAP6Byjfs">Risk of Collusion: Will Groups of 3 Ruin the FIFA World Cup?</a>"&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oWAyEqlFGO4" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oWAyEqlFGO4&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3tdQNwUOPrtvri3oVjXrNP">The Disgrace of Gijon</a>&nbsp;on YouTube&nbsp;</li>
<li>Meet the Gilbert + Tobin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gtlaw.com.au/expertise/competition-and-regulation" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gtlaw.com.au/expertise/competition-and-regulation&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779505417384000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1XJABKgWruAcwt7OeQqrqP">Competition, Consumer + Market Regulation</a>&nbsp;team&nbsp;</li>
<li>Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:edge@gtlaw.com.au">edge@gtlaw.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</ul>

TSLRIC Poetry: Dr Lilla Csorgo on merger control, ex ante regulation, economics and literature 

ACCC v Woolworths was/now pricing

ACCC v Mastercard trial

RBA new rules for card surcharges

New cash distribution framework bill

New Phase 2 merger - IAG/RAC

Epic v Apple remedies hearing

ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb

ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward delivered this year's Bannerman Competition Lecture (jointly hosted by the Business Law Section of the LCA and the ACCC), tracking the development of trade practices and competition law in Australia, the enduring influence of its first Commissioner and Chair and the challenges that lie ahead. Plus Woolworths and was/now pricing, Apple and app store access, and Mastercard and merchant routing in the courts; the future of cash revisited; and another Phase 2 review, this time for IAG and the RAC … All this and Bananaman with co-hosts Moya Dodd and Matt Rubinstein. 

ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward delivered this year's Bannerman Competition Lecture&nbsp;(jointly hosted by the Business Law Section of the LCA&nbsp;and the ACCC),&nbsp;tracking the development of trade practices&nbsp;and competition law in Australia, the enduring influence of its first Commissioner and Chair and the challenges that lie ahead. Plus Woolworths and was/now pricing, Apple and app store access, and Mastercard and merchant routing in the courts; the future of cash revisited; and another Phase 2 review, this time for IAG and the RAC &hellip; All this and&nbsp;Bananaman&nbsp;with co-hosts Moya Dodd&nbsp;and Matt Rubinstein.&nbsp;

Bannerman - The Legend of Ron Bannerman: ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward on the development of competition law in Australia and the centrality of enforcement

The World's Fair: Liana Witt and David Holmes on Australia's new unfair trading practices proposal

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