The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is implementing a cultural overhaul aimed at accelerating the approval of corporate mergers, as the Albanese government’s mandatory merger notification regime takes effect.
ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb told reporters that staff are being trained to prioritise timelines and expedite transactions that do not raise significant competition concerns.
She has set a personal key performance indicator of clearing 80% of merger applications within 20 business days.
"It's an absolute change in the process and in the cultural approach of our people," Cass-Gottlieb said, adding that the shift balances preventing anticompetitive deals while allowing the vast majority of transactions to proceed promptly.
The new rules, the most significant overhaul in 50 years, replace the voluntary notification system with mandatory clearance for mergers meeting defined monetary thresholds, aiming to curb excessive industry concentration and protect competition.
The ACCC has expanded its specialist merger team from 65 to 115 staff, with plans to reach 145, including economists and competition experts.
Under the new law, deals exceeding $200 million in Australian turnover, or certain global thresholds, must be assessed.
Complex cases may undergo a phase two review of up to 90 business days, with a further public benefit assessment if initially blocked.
While Treasury finalised some amendments in December 2025, industry groups remain concerned about regulatory friction.
To ease compliance, the ACCC has introduced waivers, clarified exemptions for routine financial and land transactions, and launched a new online portal for submissions.