In August 2017, Consumer Affairs Ministers agreed to a package of 14 legislative reforms to improve the operation of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
The legislative reforms were proposed by the Final Report of 2017 ACL Review.
Views are sought on the design of the exposure draft legislation and regulations (and accompanying draft explanatory materials).
These exposure drafts include amendments to:
- clarify existing provisions relating to consumer guarantees, voluntary recalls, unsolicited consumer agreements and false billing;
- enhance the regulators’ information gathering powers for investigations in relation to product safety and unfair contract terms;
- extend the unconscionable conduct protections to publicly listed companies;
- expand the remedies available to the courts for contraventions of the ACL; and
- improve price transparency.
The exposure drafts and accompanying draft explanatory materials are available to download.
Submissions will inform the final drafting of the Bill and the Regulations.
While submissions may be lodged electronically or by post, electronic lodgement is preferred. For accessibility reasons, please submit responses sent via email in a Word or RTF format. An additional PDF version may also be submitted.
Submissions must be received no later than 5pm Wednesday 28 February 2018.
Further information is available on the Treasury website.