Consumer Ministers Network

The Consumer Ministers Network meet to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and work together on issues that affect consumers that need national cooperation.

By working as a team, they can:

  • protect consumers
  • support fair competition and
  • help consumers feel safe and confident when buying and selling.

Members

The network includes all Australian federal, state and territory ministers responsible for consumer issues.

The minister for consumer affairs in New Zealand is also a member.

Intergovernmental agreement

The second Intergovernmental Agreement for the Australian Consumer Law was agreed on 30 August 2019.

The first Intergovernmental Agreement was signed on 2 July 2009 before the start of the Australian Consumer Law on 1 January 2011.

To read the first Intergovernmental Agreement, visit Australia’s federal relations architecture's Intergovernmental Agreement for the Australian Consumer Law [2 July 2009]

Network chair

The network chair role rotates yearly between different jurisdictions in this order:

  • New South Wales
  • Queensland
  • Commonwealth
  • Northern Territory
  • Victoria
  • New Zealand
  • Tasmania
  • Western Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • South Australia.

Officials work together

The network is supported by officials from all levels of government working together to:

  • identify key consumer priorities
  • make sure products are safe
  • teach people about consumer rights
  • set policies and
  • consider issues to help vulnerable consumers like Indigenous Australians.

A key role of these officials is to assess how effective the law is and how to improve it.

Officials help consumer ministers make decisions and ensure policies and law are clear and applied consistently across Australia in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement.

Meeting outcomes

Consumer Affairs Ministers renew commitment to protecting consumers, with an ambitious agenda for 2025

The Assistant Treasurer, Stephen Jones MP announced the 2025 Consumer Ministers Network policy priorities from their meeting on Tuesday 10 December 2024.

Consumer Ministers meeting

Consumer Affairs Ministers committed to protecting consumers

The New South Wales Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, the Hon Anoulack Chanthivong announced the 2024 Consumer Ministers Network policy priorities from their meeting on Friday 24 November 2023.

Consumer Ministers meeting

Consumer Affairs Ministers meet in Adelaide

The South Australian Minister for Consumer Affairs, the Hon Andrea Michaels MP announced the 2023 Consumer Ministers Network policy priorities from their meeting on Friday 9 September 2022.

Consumer Ministers meeting

Ministers meet to discuss consumer protection

The Australian Capital Territory Attorney-General and Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shane Rattenbury MLA announced the 2022 Consumer Ministers Network policy priorities from their meeting on Thursday 3 November 2021.

Consumer Ministers meeting
Back to top