By Sean Maguire ( November 2, 2026, 04:51 GMT | Insight) -- Australian Treasury documents obtained by MLex reveal a gap in Australia’s mandatory merger rules, addressed by September amendments, that could have allowed investors to increase their influence over companies without notifying the competition watchdog. Gina Cass-Gottlieb, chair of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, said she was unaware of acquisitions identified as falling through the gap, but cautioned that evidence could take time to emerge. The documents show Treasury did not consult stakeholders on a separate change allowing extensions of merger clearances beyond 12 months, citing insufficient time.Australian Treasury documents obtained by MLex show that a regulatory gap existed in Australia’s mandatory merger regime, potentially allowing certain acquisitions to escape notification to the country’s competition watchdog....
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