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Title: Consumer rights in Australia


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National

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) is an independent Commonwealth statutory authority. It was formed in 1995 to administer the Trade Practices Act 1974 and other acts.

The ACCC promotes competition and fair trade in the market place to benefit consumers, business and the community. It also regulates national infrastructure services. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that individuals and businesses comply with the Commonwealth competition, fair trading and consumer protection laws.

The ACCC is the only national agency dealing generally with competition matters and the only agency with responsibility for enforcing the Trade Practices Act and the state/territory application legislation.

In fair trading and consumer protection, its role complements that of the state and territory consumer affairs agencies which administer the mirror legislation of their jurisdictions, and the Competition and Consumer Policy Division of the Commonwealth Treasury.

As well as education and information, the ACCC recommends dispute resolution when possible as an alternative to litigation, it can authorise some anti-competitive conduct and it will take legal action when necessary. It provides a range of plain language publications, most being available on its website.

ACCC initiatives include promoting consumer education in rural areas and with indigenous communities.

ACCC and the Trade Practices Act

The purpose of the Trade Practices Act is to enhance the welfare of Australians through the promotion of competition and fair trading, and to make provision for consumer protection.

The Act deals with almost all aspects of the marketplace: the relationships between suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, competitors and customers.

In broad terms the Act covers unfair market practices, industry codes, mergers and acquisitions of companies, product safety, product labelling, price monitoring, and the regulation of industries such as telecommunications, gas, electricity and airports.

For further information, go to the ACCC website.


Queensland

QLD Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - Department of Tourism, Fair Trading & Wine Industry Development

The Office of Fair Trading promotes the existence of a fair and ethical marketplace within the community. In creating an equitable, informed and safe marketplace, the OFT works to increase business and consumer confidence, which should result in improved economic performance. The OFT's key activities include:
  • maintaining fair trading legislation;
  • ensuring that businesses operate responsibly through checking compliance with fair trading standards and legislation (including consumer product safety and trade measurement);
  • providing access to appropriate redress by consumers and regulation of improper trader behaviour;
  • providing customer oriented registration, licensing and trade measurement standards services;
  • resolving disputes, investigating complaints and carrying out audits; and
  • providing access to information, advice and education on fair trading matters for business and consumers.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline: 131 304
Direct:
FAX: 07 3246 1589

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au
Email: BrisbaneOFT@dtftwid.qld.gov.au

Street address:
21st Flr, State Law Building, Cnr George & Ann Sts, Brisbane, Queensland 4001

Postal address:
GPO Box 3111, Brisbane, Qld 4001


Western Australia

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, WA (OFT)

The formation of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP) on 1 July 2001 brought together three Western Australian Government agencies: the Ministry of Fair Trading, the Department of Productivity & Labour Relations and WorkSafe Western Australia. The new department has five divisions:
  • Consumer Protection;
  • Labour Relations;
  • WorkSafe;
  • Strategy; and
  • Corporate Services.

DOCEP’s purpose is to create a trading environment that protects consumers. DOCEP provides information so that consumers and traders can exercise their rights and meet their obligations. DOCEP also reviews laws which regulate the trading marketplace. Laws relating to consumer protection are monitored and enforced by DOCEP.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline: 1300 304 054
Direct: 08 9282 0777
FAX: 08 9282 0850

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.docep.wa.gov.au
Email: consumer@docep.wa.gov.au

Street address:
219 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000

Postal address:
Locked Bag 14, Cloisters Square, WA 6850


Victoria

VIC Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - 'Consumer Affairs Victoria' (CAV)

Consumer Affairs Victoria can:
  • help consumers and businesses become aware of their rights and responsibilities as a consumer or trader, through access to advisory services, public information programs, and magazines and brochures written in plain English;
  • register or license a business or find out who is registered; and
  • assist consumers in buying safe products by monitoring industry and developing standards for product safety.

CAV also develops codes of practice for industry and resolves disputes between traders and consumers by informing parties of their rights and directing them to the appropriate legal channels if required. CAV can prosecute a trader where there is evidence of a breach of the law. The Office also draws the government's attention to marketplace issues and assists the government to implement its legislative program.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline: 1300 558 181
Direct: 03 9627 6444
FAX:

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au
Email: consumer@justice.vic.gov.au

Street address:
113 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000

Postal address:
GPO Box 123A, Melbourne, Vic 3001


New South Wales

NSW Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - Department of Fair Trading

As the consumer protection agency in New South Wales, the Office of Fair Trading works to assist consumers in resolving a wide range of issues. In doing so, it also:
  • advises traders on fair and ethical practice;
  • registers businesses and promotes co-operatives;
  • provides occupational licensing; and
  • maintains product safety and standards.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline: 133 220
Direct: 02 9895 0111
FAX: 02 9895 0222

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
Email:

Street address:
1 Fitzwilliam Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150

Postal address:
PO Box 972, Parramatta, NSW 2124


South Australia

SA Office of Fair Trading (OFT ) - 'Office of Consumer and Business Affairs'

OCBA's mission is to regulate the trading environment in which consumers buy to ensure that they are confident that they will be treated fairly when buying goods or services. The Office of Consumer and Business Affairs has six main branches which provide a service to the general public, namely:
  • Consumer Affairs (includes Trade Measurement and Product Safety);
  • Business and Occupational Services;
  • Corporate Affairs and Compliance (includes Business Names, Associations and Co-operatives);
  • Births, Deaths and Marriages;
  • Tenancies (includes Residential, Retail, Bonds and support to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal); and
  • Education and Information Services.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline: 131 882
Direct: 08 8204 9777
FAX: 08 8204 9769

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au
Email: metro.cab@agd.sa.gov.au

Street address:
L4, Chesser House, 91-97 Grenfell St, Adelaide, SA 5000

Postal address:
GPO Box 1719, Adelaide, SA 5001


Tasmania

TAS Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - 'Consumer Affairs & Fair Trading'

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading provides advice and information to the public and business operators on matters affecting the interests of consumers. Potential breaches of legislation administered by the Office are investigated. The Office also provides enforcement of product safety standards. It participates in national moves towards greater uniformity in standards and legislation between all jurisdictions. Public awareness material is produced and distributed to promote compliance with the requirements of legislation. The Office also:
  • administers the Weights and Measures Act 1934;
  • is a Verifying Authority under the Commonwealth National Measurement Act 1960; and
  • provides the calibration and traceability of measurements used for technical, scientific, trade, legal and quality assurance purposes.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline: 1300 654 499
Direct: 03 6233 4567
FAX: 03 6233 4882

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.consumer.tas.gov.au
Email: consumer.affairs@justice.tas.gov.au

Street address:
15 Murray Street, Hobart, Tas 7001

Postal address:
GPO Box 1244, Hobart, Tas 7001


Northern Territory

NT Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - ' NT Consumer and Business Affairs'

The office of Consumer and Business Affairs administers consumer protection and fair trading legislation in the Northern Territory. The office deals with Territory fair trading issues as well as one on one disputes between consumers and traders, depending on the circumstances.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline: 1800 019 319
Direct: 08 8999 1999
FAX: 08 8999 6260

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/graphpages/cba/index.shtml
Email: consumer@nt.gov.au

Street address:
1st Flr, Minerals House, 66 The Esplanade, Darwin, NT 0800

Postal address:
GPO Box 1722, Darwin, NT 0801


Australian Capital Territory

ACT Office of Fair Trading (OFT)

The ACT Office of Fair Trading is located within the Policy and Regulatory Division of the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety. The Policy and Regulatory Division balances competing rights and interests to protect the interests of the Territory and its residents by improving community safety and access to justice, and by promoting fair dealing and safety in the marketplace. The core services provided by the ACT OFT are:
  • provision of policy advice;
  • legislation - scrutiny, framing, developing and explaining;
  • ministerial services;
  • regulation of industry;
  • enforcement and compliance - consumer rights and industry regulation;
  • freedom of information on behalf of the ACT Government;
  • consumer complaints resolution;
  • education and information;
  • representation and liaison - boards and committees; and
  • community consultation.

Telephone and fax numbers:
Hotline:
Direct: 02 6207 0400
FAX: 02 6207 0538

Web (URL) and email addresses:
Web: http://www.fairtrading.act.gov.au/index.html
Email: fair.trading@act.gov.au

Street address:
Ground Floor Shopfront, 12 Moore St, CFM Building, Canberra City, ACT 2601

Postal address:
GPO Box 158, Canberra City, ACT 2601



:wha: Right, glad that's over! :blink:




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