The law should protect all consumers from practices which can confuse and unfairly manipulate them and help them deal with the consequences. Existing laws require regulators to prove misleading or deceptive conduct, which often doesn’t capture the bad practices too many people are impacted by.
That’s why we have joined with the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) and other consumer and community organisations in a joint submission to the federal Treasury’s Unfair trading practices – exposure draft.
The draft legislation has no general ban for unfair trading and includes too many exceptions and qualifications to deliver fully on the intent to unfair trading practices are prevented by Australian consumer law.
Our collective response highlights aspects of the draft which need to be strengthened and reiterates our recommendation against broad exceptions and exemptions.
What’s next?
We will support CPRC in further engagement during this process as they work to strengthen consumer rights. If the new laws pass, they will start on 1 July 2027.
