Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury today released exposure drafts of the Commonwealth's proposed amendments to the single pricing ("component pricing") requirements in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) for restaurants and cafés for public comment.
"The Productivity Commission has recommended that the Government should amend the law to place restaurant and café menu surcharges for specific days, such as public holiday and weekend surcharges, outside of the single pricing requirements. The Government has accepted this recommendation," said Mr Bradbury.
"The Government recognises that amending the single pricing requirements as they apply to restaurant and café menu surcharges would reduce the regulatory burden for small businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector.
"However, the Government also recognises that it is important for consumers to be clearly informed about surcharges. The Commonwealth's proposed amendments would give effect to the recommendation whilst still requiring surcharges to be clearly displayed to consumers.
"In accordance with the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the ACL, I will be consulting with State and Territory consumer affairs Ministers on the proposed amendments. The Commonwealth requires the support of the States and Territories in order to change the law."
The exposure draft amendments are available at on the Treasury Website. The closing date for comments is Friday, 18 January 2013.