Buying goods and services
Consumer rights and responsibilities
Consumer Protection laws are now consistent across Australia. The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) implements best practice models from around the country creating a uniform set of laws across Australia. The ACL aims to protect consumers and promote fair trading with laws covering:
Consumer guarantees
Focuses on both goods and services providers. Includes who guarantees what, warranties, gift guarantees, refunds, repairs and replacements, manufacturers' responsibilities, service cancellations and compensations. Find out more.
Sales practices
This includes telemarketing, door to door sales, contracts, pyramid schemes, multiple pricing, lay-by agreements, referral selling, harrassment and coercion, and providing receipts and itemised bills. Find out more.
Unfair business practices
Defines misleading, deceptive and unconscionable conduct, information standards and 'country of origin' claims and provides penalties for unfair practices. Find out more.
Related information
A number of information sheets and guides have been developed to help businesses and consumers understand the new laws and are available on our resources page.