Rights and responsibilities around pricing

Businesses can charge a surcharge for paying by card, but the surcharge must not be more than what it costs the business to process that payment type.
There are laws about how businesses display prices. They cover how prices are displayed, and what must be included in the displayed prices.
Businesses can mostly set their prices as they see fit. But businesses’ behaviour around setting prices may be illegal if it harms competition, or if the reasons given for prices are misleading.

Grocery pricing

Shops that sell groceries often show a unit price alongside the total selling price of a product. This helps consumers compare prices and find the best value for money.
Businesses need to comply with the Unit Pricing Code if they sell certain food-based grocery items. Grocery retailers must display unit prices so that consumers can make informed choices.

ACCC action on pricing

The ACCC is seeking feedback from businesses and consumers on Australia Post’s draft proposal to increase stamp prices for ordinary small and large letters by 8.8 per cent from mid-2026.
Industrial drone supplier, EE Group Australia Pty Ltd (EE Group), has admitted to engaging in resale price maintenance by directing certain resellers to not advertise or sell DJI drone products to consumers below a specified price.
The Federal Court has today ordered online travel agency Webjet to pay $9 million in penalties for making false or misleading statements about the price of flights and booking confirmations, after a case run by the ACCC.