A competition regulator has once more declined to approve the sale of RAC WA's insurance division to a large east-coast company, according to ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The decision, reported on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, marks the second time the watchdog has moved to stop the deal.
ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation did not indicate in the available material which companies were involved beyond the description of the buyer as an east-coast giant, nor did it set out the regulator's stated reasons for the fresh block.
The reported outcome means the proposed transfer of RAC WA's insurance arm remains uncompleted. RAC WA is a Western Australian motoring and services organisation, while the prospective purchaser is based on Australia's east coast — a cross-country tie-up that has now drawn scrutiny from the national competition watchdog on more than one occasion.
The ABC's report frames the decision as a repeat intervention, suggesting the regulator has maintained its position on the transaction rather than clearing it on review. No timeline for any further steps by the parties was included in the material available.
What to watch next: whether RAC WA and the east-coast buyer challenge the ruling, restructure the deal, or abandon the sale altogether.
