The Government introduced new legislation into Parliament this week to help ease the cost of living and stop dodgy businesses ripping off consumers.

Some of the unfair tactics being targeted include: subscription traps that make cancelling a subscription difficult; drip pricing practices where fees are hidden; dynamic pricing where a product’s price changes during the transaction; and requiring consumers to set up an account to make an online purchase.

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said that too many of his constituents have had the experience of signing up to a gym or digital service online, only to discover that cancelling requires a phone call or unnecessary hurdles and red tape.

“Other people spot what looks like a good deal online but then find compulsory hidden fees and charges when they arrive at the checkout,” Mr Neumann said.

“And far too often, locals are pressured into purchases by countdown timers or claims that ‘only two items remain’, even when plenty of stock is available.”

This major reform to ban unfair trading practices will put a stop to business tactics that rely on confusion, design tricks, needless friction or sheer consumer exhaustion.

Mr Neumann said too many consumers clicked ‘buy’, only to discover extra charges at the final screen, or they signed up to subscriptions that were easy to start but deliberately hard to cancel.

“You shouldn’t need to read the fine print to understand what you’re paying for. These dubious practices chip away at household budgets and undermine trust,” he said.

“This is all about backing consumers and making markets fairer by cracking down on dodgy deals to save people money.

“Combined with the Albanese Labor Government’s fuel tax relief, tax cuts, higher wages, increases to social security payments and Commonwealth Rent Assistance, cheaper medicines and cuts to student debt, we’re making a real difference when it comes to easing the cost of living.”