The weighty
Consumer Law Reform Bill (CLRB) has finally had its
first reading and has been referred to the Commerce Select
Committee.
Submissions are due by 29 March 2012.
Issues the new Minister of Commerce, Chris Tremain, has
identified for particular consideration by the Committee are:
- the provision that carriers such as couriers no longer be able
to opt out of providing a guarantee when the party to the contract
of carriage is a consumer
- whether the increase in the carrier's cap on liability from
$1500 (where it has been for many years) to $2000 has been set at
the right level,and
- whether the Fair Trading Act should provide protections against
unconscionability and unfair contract terms, these having been
omitted from the CLRB but are included in the Australian consumer
law on which the Bill is based.
