Summary

Implements certain recommendations of the Australian Consumer Law Review Final Report by amending the: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to: amend evidentiary requirements to allow private litigants to rely on admitted facts from earlier proceedings; clarify the operation of unsolicited services provisions and unsolicited consumer agreements in a public place; ensure that fees or charges associated with pre-selected options must be included in the single price; strengthen the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) powers to obtain information about product safety; enable third parties to give effect to a community service order; and clarify the scope of the exemption from the consumer guarantees for the transport or storage of goods; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to: extend the unconscionable conduct protections to publicly listed companies; and enable the ACCC and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to investigate possible unfair contract terms; and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to: correct inconsistent terminology for financial products that involve interests in land; and clarify the application of consumer protections to financial products.