The Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs (MCCA) has agreed that all Australian governments should adopt a new national consumer law, which will operate in all Australian jurisdictions and remains consistent. “Today the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments have placed the Australian consumer front and centre, as we took an important step on the road to achieving a single, national consumer law,” Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen, said. “These reforms will bring... ...Read more »

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, yesterday released the new National Employment Standards (NES).The NES are a key element of the Rudd Government’s new workplace relations system and will come into effect on 1 January 2010, with the Government indicating that the new system should ensure that all employees are protected by a strong safety net of fair minimum conditions. The NES will apply to all employees in the Federal... ...Read more »

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Consumer Affairs Victoria was signed in Melbourne today by ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, and Consumer Affairs Victoria Director, Dr David Cousins. “The MOU reflects the spirit of collaboration between the two agencies and demonstrates the commitment of both organisations to work together to ensure consumers and traders are aware of their rights and responsibilities under fair trading and... ...Read more »

The 11th meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council was held in Melbourne late last week with health warnings on alcohol and a draft standard on health and nutrition claims among the topics discussed. Strategic direction on the Australian and New Zealand Food Regulatory System The Ministerial Council endorsed the ‘Overarching Strategic Statement for the Food Regulatory System’ that provides the strategic context for the Australian and New Zealand... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) supports with some reservation the Victorian Government’s changes to extend clearway times in and around Melbourne CBD and is calling for councils to ease local parking restrictions. According to Executive Director Richard Evans, extending the clearway times to 6.30-10am and 3-7pm will help ease the increasing traffic congestion problem in Melbourne but there needs to be a co-joining process with local councils to encourage retail... ...Read more »

The Federal Government has mooted changes to legislation which will provide the ACCC with greater powers to crackdown on companies engaging in the practice of predatory pricing. The legislation is another attempt by the government to stimulate competition and reduce spiralling prices, particularly in the food industry. Minister for Small Business, Chris Bowen, outlined the changes at the Trade Practices and Corporate Compliance Conference and indicated the changes would help stimulate competition.... ...Read more »

The Federal Government has announced they will be reducing restrictions on foreign supermarkets entering the Australian marketplace. The changes will provide supermarkets with five years to develop vacant commercial land as opposed to the current one-year allowance. The new legislation is designed to entice multinational companies like Wal-Mart, Costco and Tesco into Australia; with assistant treasurer Chris Bowen indicating that old legislation stifled competition in the sector. “We... ...Read more »

The NSW Government is set to create the ‘Office of the Retail Advocate’ to help protect shop owners from deceitful landlords, according to reports from News Ltd. The Office would have the power to seize landlord documents if they employ predatory tactics against their tenants and will also be able to prosecute landlords on behalf of tenants who would otherwise lack the financial capacity to take their landlord to court. According to News Ltd, a tenants hotline received 6000 calls from... ...Read more »

As of March 28 the changes to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 have come into effect. Consequently, businesses need to be aware of changes to the law which prevent new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) from being created. There has also been the inroduction of Individual Transitional Employment Agreements (ITEAs), which can be used for a limited time during the transitional period. Additionally, a new no-disadvantage test has been produced by the government for any future workplace agreements. Businesses... ...Read more »

The New South Wales Food Authority recently warned consumers against drinking unpasteurised milk which is being widely marketed under the guise of a pet food or as a cosmetic (eg bathtime) product. This article discusses the sale of unpasteurised milk and milk products for human consumption throughout Australia, and the risks that are being posed. A NSW Food Authority media release on 23 October 2007 advised that the Authority had received numerous complaints about ‘rogue traders’ selling... ...Read more »