Have your say on potential unfair trading practices

NT Consumer Affairs and other consumer agencies in Australia are inviting all Australians and small businesses to contribute their thoughts to a new Department of Treasury community consultation.

The Department of Treasury seeks to improve consumer protections in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). There are still some concerning business conduct which is unlikely to breach Australian Consumer Law but cause actual harm to consumers. The behaviour of large businesses can also harm small businesses. The ACL is a set of national laws created to help reduce the power imbalance between consumers and businesses and help reduce consumer/business conflict. Aspects of the ACL have already been updated and refined since its introduction in 2010, and this consultation is designed to examine where more changes are required.

NT Consumer Affairs is keen to see an improved standard for business behaviour that can empower consumers and small businesses.

Some examples of potential unfair trading practices include making it unnecessarily difficult to end an online subscription or ‘take it or leave it’ contracts with lengthy clauses that hide agreements consenting to consumers’ data being used.

Proposed policy options aim to:

• better protect consumers and small businesses
• remove distortions to competition
• bring Australia in line with other OECD countries.

Submissions are open until 29 November, and feedback will inform final reforms.

Find out how to provide feedback.