Australian Consumer Law – Casting a much wider net

Changes to the Australian Consumer Law, amending the definition of “consumer” have come into effect on 1 July 2021, which is a timely reminder for businesses to review their terms and conditions.

Definition of Consumer

Currently section 3 of the Australian Consumer Law, which is found in Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) provides that a person is taken to have acquired goods and services as a consumer if and only if:

1. The amount did not exceed $40,000; or,
2. The goods or services were of a kind ordinarily acquired for personal, domestic or household use of consumption; or,
3. The goods consisted of a vehicle or trailer acquired for use principally in the transport of goods on public roads.