Projects

A number of projects are being undertaken which will inform the review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

Australian Consumer Survey 2016

The second Australian Consumer Survey, a national survey of more than 5400 consumers and 1200 businesses regarding their understanding of and experience with the ACL, has been completed. Further information about the survey, including the 2016 report, is available on the Consumer Survey page.

Comparative analysis of overseas consumer policy frameworks

In December 2015, Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand commissioned the Queensland University of Technology to undertake a study of consumer policy frameworks in comparable countries (such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Singapore).

The report from this study identifies a range of approaches to consumer policy, with a particular focus on cross-cutting themes or issues.

Comparative analysis of overseas consumer policy frameworks

Full Report [PDF 3MB] | Full Report [DOCX 1.7MB]

Part 1: Preliminaries and Introduction [PDF 1MB]

Part 2: Executive Summary [PDF 913KB]

Part 3: Approaches to unconscionable or highly unfair trading practices [PDF 1.5MB]

Part 4: Approaches to regulation of e-commerce and peer to peer transactions [PDF 1.5MB]

Part 5: Institutional structures relating to the administration and enforcement of consumer laws [PDF 1.4MB]

Part 6: Measures to facilitate access to justice [PDF 1.1MB]

Independent assessment of the enforcement and administration arrangements underpinning the ACL

The Terms of Reference for the ACL Review require an independent assessment of the ‘single-law, multiple regulator’ model.

On 29 April 2016, the Productivity Commission was commissioned to undertake a study to examine the effectiveness of this model in supporting a single national consumer policy framework. The study will assess the complementary roles of ACL regulators and make findings on how this model could be strengthened. It will also examine the interaction of specialist regulatory regimes with ACL regulators and report on other regulatory models including approaches to consumer protection overseas.

The Productivity Commission is expected to report by March 2017. Further information, including the terms of reference, is available on the Productivity Commission's website.