Consumer guarantee framework 2018

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The Commonwealth Government are seeking your views on the clarification, simplification and modernisation of the consumer guarantee framework 

Status: Open, closes Monday 23 April 2018. 

Background

A recent review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) highlighted a number of benefits to Australians.  The review also identified ongoing difficulties with the operation of the consumer guarantee provisions, and proposed a number of amendments to the ACL, to assist with further clarification, simplification and modernisation of the law.  A final report of the ACL review was produced in March 2017.

In August 2017, a regulatory impact assessment was produced with seven proposals from the Review. Five of the proposals and their implementation options relate to the consumer guarantees in the ACL, and are considered in the consultation regulatory impact statement (CRIS).

Proprosed changes

The CRIS details the proposed changes.  It is comprised of four chapters, each of which addresses the five proposals from the review, and is structured as follows:

  • Chapter 1: Increasing the threshold in the definition of ‘consumer’ from $40,000 to $100,000;
  • Chapter 2: Clarifying the consumer guarantees remedies (comprised of two proposals – failure within a short period of time and multiple failures);
  • Chapter 3: Enhanced disclosure for extended warranties; and
  • Chapter 4: Access to consumer guarantees for goods sold at auctions.

Downloads and resources

The following resources are available to download from Treasury's consultation page for the Clarification, simplification and modernisation of the consumer guarantee framework 

  • Introductory Chapter - Clarification, simplification and modernisation of the consumer guarantee framework 153.3 kB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
  • Introductory Chapter - Clarification, simplification and modernisation of the consumer guarantee framework 164.1 kB (PDF document)
  • Chapter 1 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Increasing the threshold in the definition of ‘consumer’ from $40,000 to $100,000 113.2 kB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
  • Chapter 1 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Increasing the threshold in the definition of ‘consumer’ from $40,000 to $100,000 215.7 kB (PDF document)
  • Chapter 2 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Clarifying the consumer guarantees remedies 223.3 kB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
  • Chapter 2 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Clarifying the consumer guarantees remedies 447.2 kB (PDF document)
  • Chapter 3 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Enhanced disclosure for extended warranties 161.8 kB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
  • Chapter 3 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Enhanced disclosure for extended warranties 322.5 kB (PDF document)
  • Chapter 4 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Access to consumer guarantees for goods sold at auctions 240.8 kB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
  • Chapter 4 - Australian Consumer Law Review: Access to consumer guarantees for goods sold at auctions 321.5 kB (PDF document)
  • Combined document 1002.2 kB (PDF document)

How to make a submission or comment

You  can make a submission by:

Manager
Consumer Policy Unit 
The Treasury
Langton Crescent
Parkes ACT 2600

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