ARTICLE · 18 NOVEMBER 2010

10 Things you need to know about Australian Consumer Law

DLA Piper Australia

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The Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs described the Australian Consumer Law as the most comprehensive change to the Trade Practices Act since its inception in 1974. In this article, we summarise 10 key things that businesses should know about the introduction of the Australian Consumer Law.

AustraliaConsumer Protection

Richard Owens

The Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs described the Australian Consumer Law as the most comprehensive change to the Trade Practices Act since its inception in 1974. In this article, we summarise 10 key things that businesses should know about the introduction of the Australian Consumer Law.

1. What changes, and when?

The first part of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) has already commenced. On 15 April 2010, the ACCC obtained a wide range of new enforcement powers. New laws on unfair contract terms commenced on 1 July 2010.

The main part of the ACL (the Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No. 2) 2010) commences on 1 January 2011. On that date, the existing consumer protection provisions in the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA) will be repealed and replaced with the ACL. The TPA will also be renamed as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The States and Territories are also intending to amend their existing laws on 1 January

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