Small businesses will have more power to take on the big end of town after the Morrison government decided to wave through new laws.
The new measures, which Labor has tacked on to federal government legislation relating to managed funds, let small businesses start a court case by seeking an order that they won't have to pay the other side's legal fees.
Opposition treasury spokesman Andrew Leigh told parliament the move will help level the playing field for small businesses who want to hold breaches of competition law to account.
"Small business isn't scared so much of their own legal costs, as being bankrupted by the legal costs of the other side," he told parliament on Monday.
Parliament approved the laws on Monday, despite earlier suggestions the debate would not come on until Tuesday.
Both Labor and the Nationals are claiming victory.
Former National leader Barnaby Joyce said the changes will mean it isn't a big chequebook that wins an argument.
"It is the just outcome that wins the argument," he told parliament.
"We have for so long been fighting in the National Party ... to make sure that comes about."
Dr Leigh earlier told reporters the prime minister and Liberals had been fighting against this access to justice for years.
"They voted against it in the Senate as recently as Thursday night, they voted against our bill," he said.
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