Streamlining and simplifying IP Regulation

Overview

IP Australia sought views on a targeted set of potential technical and administrative changes to streamline and simplify IP legislation, allowing individuals and businesses to focus on more productive activities.

Proposed improvements are consistent with the Australian Government’s focus on productivity and better regulation to remove unnecessary compliance burdens.

In July 2025, IP Australia responded to a call from the Government to identify tangible, achievable actions to support productivity and economic growth, by proposing possible legislative reform packages to improve Australia’s IP rights system.

This consultation is an opportunity to comment on those and other proposals to streamline and simplify Australia's IP system.

The proposals in the consultation paper are at various stages of policy development. Many of these proposals are addressing known issues logged on IP Australia’s public Policy Register that could be addressed with low-impact legislative changes. While these proposals have not been agreed to by Government, we want to be ready to progress them should the opportunity arise.

Streamlining and simplifying IP regulation consultation paper

Why your views matter

IP Australia is interested in how the proposed reforms would work for individuals and businesses operating within Australia's IP system. We want to understand the perspectives of designers, patent holders, plant breeders, trade mark owners, IP right applicants and IP professionals, along with academics and others who may have an interest in IP protections. 

What happens next

IP Australia will carefully consider all submissions and take them into account when advising Government on which issues to take forward. Subject to Government decisions, proposals will be progressed at various times as legislative priorities allow. It is not possible to give a specific timeframe for when the legislation may be made. For more complex changes, further public consultation may take place, consistent with the Government’s priorities. Non-confidential submissions will be published in due course.

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