Handbook

The Australian Consumer Law is contained in the Competition and Consumer Act, and operates as a law of the Commonwealth, and as a law of each of the states and territories by separate State and Territory application legislation. It contains the former Trade Practices Act Consumer Protection provisions, as well as new laws on unfair contract terms, product safety, consumer guarantees law, lay-by sales , unsolicited selling and new penalties and enforcement powers for the ACCC and state and territory agencies. These laws are now consistent across all jurisdictions, and enforceable in each. Many concepts from the former Trade Practices Act are still relevant, and although some have been redrafted to comply with newer style this is not intended to alter their legal effect.