A new national Consumer Law comes into effect on January 1st, 2011, replacing 17 Federal, State and Territory laws which currently define the rights of consumers and the obligations of business. Dr Michael Schaper, Deputy Chair of the ACCC, says business will benefit from the standardisation of the law and the creation of a level playing field. He says three areas to which business owners and managers will need to pay special attention are unfair contracts, consumer guarantees and best practice reforms. Changes to the enforcement of breaches of the law also take effect, with possible criminal action or heavy fines for major breaches, but a wider range of powers for the ACCC and state authorities to deal with lesser problems in a more balanced and proportionate way. Advice is available through official websites: www.consumerlaw.gov.auand www.accc.gov.au/smallbusiness.
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