SUBJECTS: Australian Consumer Law
BRADBURY:
These new laws mean that for a resident anywhere in Australia, they'll be governed by the same laws, which means that it doesn't matter whether you live in New South Wales, Queensland or Western Australia, for the first time you'll be covered by the same consumer protection laws.
HOST:
Can you give us an example of how it will benefit consumers to have this one law right around the country? I imagine that before this there would have been some confusion.
BRADBURY:
One of the benefits of harmonisation is in the area of product safety law, and for the first time we will have a nationally-consistent system of product safety.
What this has meant in the past, with the various regimes, has been that there might be a product that has been banned for safety reasons in one State or Territory, but has not been banned in other States or Territories. Now clearly, the safety of a product doesn't change simply because the person using it is across the other side of a State or Territory border.
So under the new system, we will have a nationally-consistent system of product safety laws, and that will ensure that, where a product is deemed to be unsafe then it will be banned regardless of where you live in Australia.
HOST:
And I understand there's also going to be changes to conditions and warranties. How will that affect consumers? What sort of changes will come into effect there?
BRADBURY:
At the moment, when you go and buy some goods or services, quite often you'll be provided with an express warranty. They might say the goods have a warranty of up to two years or five years, but quite often you'll buy goods or have services provided to you without there being an express warranty provided. Consumers should be aware that under the new consumer guarantees, that regardless of whether you're given an express warranty, you do have certain rights. Suppliers of goods are required to supply goods of acceptable quality and to ensure that those goods are fit for the purpose for which they were purchased.
So even if you don't have an express warranty, you may well have rights available to you, and those rights might include having the goods repaired, having them replaced, or even securing a refund.
HOST:
David Bradbury, thank you very much.
BRADBURY:
Thanks very much Brigid.