Consumer Policy
- The Treasury provides advice to the Government on Australia’s consumer policy framework — including the consumer law provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA) — and promoting competitive, efficient, well informed and safe markets that enhance the welfare of Australian consumers.
- The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP is the Minister responsible for consumer policy. Dr Emerson was appointed Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs in June 2009. For more information about Minister Emerson, please visit the Minister’s website.
- The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is responsible for enforcing the TPA. More information about the ACCC is available on its website, or by calling the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502.
- The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is responsible for enforcing the consumer protection provisions of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and the Corporations Act 2001. For more information about ASIC please visit its website.
Reforming Australia’s consumer laws
We are reforming Australia consumer laws. The Australian Consumer Law will commence on 1 January 2011 and includes:
- national consumer protection and fair trading laws;
- enhanced enforcement powers and redress mechanisms;
- a national unfair contract terms law;
- a new national product safety regime; and
- a new national consumer guarantees law.
Recent developments
On 1 December 2009 the Unit Pricing Code came into force. The Code requires all large and online supermarkets to display unit prices in their stores for all grocery items that are not specifically exempt. A unit price is a price per standard unit of measurement, for example, '$2.29 per 100g'. The unit pricing regulations are available online. For more information, please see the Minister's media release or visit the ACCC website.
On 5 November 2009 Minister Emerson announced amendments to the unconscionable conduct provisions of the TPA as part of the Government’s formal response to the Senate Economics Committee inquiry into the statutory definition of unconscionable conduct. On 3 March 2010, the Minister announced further changes to the unconscionable conduct provisions and the Franchising Code of Conduct, designed to clarify and strengthen their effectiveness.
An amendment to the TPA to achieve clarity in pricing commenced on 25 May 2009. The amendment ensures that where a business makes a representation to consumers about the partial price of a good or service, the total price must also be prominently displayed, as a single figure, to the extent that it is quantifiable. For more information on clarity in pricing please see the Minister’s media release or visit the ACCC website.
Consumer policy
Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs (MCCA)
MCCA consists of the Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand ministers responsible for consumer affairs.
Its role is to consider consumer policy issues of national significance and, where possible, develop a consistent approach to those issues. Its website provides information on consumer rights, and information for businesses on how to deal with consumers. It also provides links to other consumer policy and enforcement agencies in Australia and New Zealand.Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (CCAAC)
CCAAC provides advice to the Minister on consumer policy issues. It meets two to four times a year. Details of CCAAC are available on the Government Online Directory.
Ticket onselling
On 31 May 2010 CCAAC released an issues paper entitled Ticket scalping: Ticket onselling and consumers.
Further information on the review can be found on the CCAAC ticket onselling page.
Statutory conditions and warranties
On 30 October 2009 CCAAC presented to Minister Emerson its report Consumer rights: Reforming statutory implied conditions and warranties. CCAAC's review of statutory implied conditions and warranties was announced by the Government on 12 March 2009.
Further information on the review can be found on the CCAAC conditions and warranties page.
Productivity Commission Review of Australia's consumer policy framework
In May 2008 the Productivity Commission published its report into Australia's consumer policy framework. Details of the inquiry, including the final report, are available from the Productivity Commission's website.
Consumer policy online
In addition to general consumer policy, the Treasury also provides consumer policy information on specific topics, such as
- choice of superannuation funds,
- financial literacy,
- e- and m-commerce,
- the consumer credit code; and
- complaints and enquiries.
National Consumer Congress
The National Consumer Congress is an annual event gathering together government, business, academic and consumer representatives to discuss key consumer issues and perspectives on the way forward in the area of consumer policy. Each Congress features a number of keynote addresses, presentations and workshops. For information on recent Congresses, including transcripts of proceedings, please click the links below.
- The 2010 National Consumer Congress was hosted by CHOICE and the New South Wales Government on 15-16 March 2010 in Sydney.
- The 2009 National Consumer Congress was hosted by the South Australian Government on 12‑13 March 2009 in Adelaide.
- The 2008 National Consumer Congress was hosted by the Western Australian Government on 5‑6 March 2008 in Perth.
- The 2007 National Consumer Congress was hosted by the Australian Government on 14‑15 March 2007 in Melbourne.
