What is the Australian National Consumer Law intended to address?
COAG has agreed that the Australian Consumer Law should be based on the existing generic consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (TPA). COAG has agreed to 3 specific proposals to augment the current provisions of the TPA. These are as follows: • the inclusion of a provision regulating unfair contract terms; • the inclusion of a range of additional penalties, enforcement powers and consumer remedies; and • the implementation of a new national product safety regulatory system. In relation to these changes the Standing Committee of Officials of Consumer Affairs seeks the views of stakeholders on the current effectiveness of the provisions of the TPA that concern consumer protection issues or are otherwise relevant to them and how they may be improved. Unfair contract terms COAG has agreed to the inclusion of a provision regulating unfair contract terms in the Australian Consumer Law. Unfair contract terms are terms that cause a significant imbalance in the par
