The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) is the national law for fair trading and consumer protection, which applies across Australia. The ACL came into force on 1 January 2011. The ACL provides a range of specific obligations in relation to unfair practices, consumer transactions and safety of products and product related services. 

This guide was developed following interest from the charities, not-for-profit and fundraising sectors for information to help them better understand their obligations under the ACL, particularly in relation to fundraising.

This guide also covers other activities which the sector may undertake, such as the supply of goods or services.

This guide:

• explains the law in simple language but is not a substitute for the legislation 
• gives general information and examples, not legal advice nor a definitive list of situations where the ACL applies.

Further information about Western Australia's charitable collections law is available from the Charity section.

Contents of the guide

• Introduction 
• Fundraising and the ACL
• Your obligations under the ACL
• The prohibition against misleading or deceptive conduct
• Unconscionable conduct
• Obligations that only apply in connection with the supply of a good or service 
• Enforcing the law 
• Other obligations 
• ACL regulators