Footnotes

Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Dr Steven Kennedy, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 1.

[2]        Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 2.

[3]        Dr Steven Kennedy, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 1.

[4]        Dr Steven Kennedy, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 1.

[5]        Ms Paula Pyburne, Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill 2009, Bills Digest no. 19, 2009–10, Parliamentary Library, 18 August 2009, p. 11.

[6]        Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 2.

[7]        Consumer Action Law Centre, The consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974: Keeping Australia up to date, May 2008, www.consumeraction.org.au/publications/policy-reports.php

Chapter 2 - The consultative process

[1]        The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 25 June 2009, p. 6981.

[2]        http://www.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?pageID=&doc=pressreleases/2006/133.htm&min=phc

[3]        Productivity Commission, Review of Australia's Consumer Framework, Volume 1, April 2008, p. 2.

[4]        Productivity Commission, Review of Australia's Consumer Framework, Volume 1, April 2008, p. 2.

[5]        Productivity Commission, 'Review of Australia's Consumer Policy Framework', Productivity Commission Inquiry Report No. 45, vol. 2, recommendation 7.1, p. 168. See also Paula Pyburne, Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill 2009, Bills Digest, no. 19, 2009–10, 18 August 2009, p. 9.

[6]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 8. The Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs (MCCA) and its supporting bodies are responsible for considering consumer and fair trading matters and, where possible, developing a consistent approach to these issues. The membership of MCCA consists of the Australian Government, the governments of the States and Territories, and the New Zealand Government. The Working Group is one of seven established by COAG in December 2007. It is overseen by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation.

[7]        http://www.consumer.gov.au/html/download/MCCA_Meetings/Meeting_20_15_Aug_08.pdf

[8]        http://www.consumer.gov.au/html/download/MCCA_Meetings/Meeting_20_15_Aug_08.pdf

[9]        Council of Australian Governments, http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2008-10-02/index.cfm

[10]      The Standing Committee of Officials of Consumer Affairs is a subcommittee of the MCCA and consists of all chief executive officers of consumer protection agencies.

[11]      Treasury, An Australian Consumer Law—Fair Markets, Confident Consumers, Consultation paper, http://www.treasury.gov.au/contentitem.asp?ContentID=1484&NavID=014

[12]      Submissions, An Australian Consumer Law—Fair Markets, Confident Consumers, Consultation paper, http://www.treasury.gov.au/contentitem.asp?ContentID=1501&NavID=014

[13]      Treasury, An Australian Consumer Law—Fair Markets, Consultation on draft provisions on unfair contract terms, http://www.treasury.gov.au/contentitem.asp?NavId=037&ContentID=1537

[14]      http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2009-07-02/docs/IGA_australian_consumer_law.pdf
See also Paula Pyburne, Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill 2009, Bills Digest, no. 19, 2009–10, 18 August 2009, p. 11.

[15]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 2.

Chapter 3 - The need for a national consumer law

[1]        The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6981.

[2]        The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6981.

[3]        Standing Committee of Officials of Consumer Affairs Unfair Contract Terms Working Party, Unfair Contract Terms: A Discussion Paper, January 2004, pp. 16–17. See Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, pp. 4–5.

[4]        Productivity Commission, Review of Australia's Consumer Framework, Volume 1, April 2008, p. 19.

[5]        Mr Dave Poddar, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 31.

[6]        ABACUS, Submission 33, p. 1.

[7]        Mr Mark Degotardi, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 28.

[8]        Business Council of Australia, Submission 20, p. 1.

[9]        Minter Ellison, Submission 45, p. 1.

[10]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 2.

[11]      Mr Michael Delaney, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 23.

[12]      Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August, p. 26.

[13]      See Mr David Bell, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 35.

[14]      Mr John Colvin, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 10.

[15]      Submission 11, p. 3.

[16]      Mr David Bell, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2006, p. 34.

[17]      Mr Michael Delaney, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 19.

[18]      Ms Katherine Lane, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 48.

Chapter 4 - Defining 'unfair' contract terms

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 13 and p. 28.

[2]        Subsection 3(1)

[3]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 21.

[4]        The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6984.

[5]        Submission 11, p. 3,

[6]        National Australia Bank, Submission 30, p. 4.

[7]        National Australia Bank, Submission 30, p. 3.

[8]        National Australia Bank, Submission 30, p. 3.

[9]        Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 6.

[10]      Business Council of Australia, Submission 20, p. 4. The BCA was citing George Raitt, 'Unfair contracts bill repeats UK problems', Australian Financial Review, 23 July 2009, p. 63.

[11]      Submission 4, p. 4.

[12]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 5.

[13]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 9.

[14]      Subsection 7(1)

[15]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 29.

[16]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 30.

[17]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 9. The Centre also argued that there is 'little reason' why the bill's coverage could not be extended to cover negotiated contracts.

[18]      Submission 4, p. 7.

[19]      Submission 11, p. 4.

[20]      National Australia Bank, Submission 30, p. 4.

[21]      ABACUS, Submission 33, p. 7.

[22]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 23.

[23]      The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6984.

[24]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 23.

[25]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 24.

[26]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 5.

[27]      National Australia Bank, Submission 30, p. 6.

[28]      Business Council of Australia, Submission 20, p. 4. The BCA was citing George Raitt, 'Unfair contracts bill repeats UK problems', Australian Financial Review, 23 July 2009, p. 63.

[29]      Mr Simon Writer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 2.

[30]      Mr Simon Writer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 2.

[31]      Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Submission 12, p. 5.

[32]      As chapter 6 notes, Associate Professor Zumbo does have difficulty with the bill's 'detriment' and 'transparency' tests in subsections 3(2) and 3(3).

[33]      Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 31.

[34]      Mr Michael Delaney, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 20.

[35]      Ms Ann Dalton, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 13.

[36]      Mr Kerry Corke, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 14.

[37]      Mr Kerry Corke, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 14.

[38]      Mr Kerry Corke, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 16.

[39]      Ms Katherine Lane, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 48.

Chapter 5 - The scope of the bill: business-to-consumer unfair contract terms

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 17.

[2]        https://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/economics_ctte/tpa_unconscionable_08/report/report.pdf, https://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/corporations_ctte/franchising/report/index.htm
See also, Dr Kennedy, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 5.

[3]        Association of Consulting Engineers Australia, Submission 31, p. 2.

[4]        Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Submission 42, p. 10.

[5]        Queensland Newsagents Federation, Submission 5, pp. 1–2; Newsagents Association of NSW and the ACT, Submission 41, p. 2.

[6]        Australian Newsagents' Federation, Submission 17, p. 2.

[7]        Motor Trades Association of Australia, Submission 15, p. 3.

[8]        Mr Michael Delaney, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 18.

[9]        Council of Small Business of Australia, Submission 34, p. 2.

[10]      Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Submission 12, pp. 3–4.

[11]      Shopping Centre Council of Australia, Submission 9, pp. 2–4. See also Colonial First State Property Management, Submission 11, p. 4–5

[12]      Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, pp. 1–2.

[13]      Business Council of Australia, Submission 20, p. 2.

[14]      GE, Submission 26, p. 2.

[15]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 13. In the ASIC Act, a consumer contract is a contract at least one of the parties to which is an individual whose acquisition of what is supplied under the contract is wholly or predominantly an acquisition for personal, domestic or household use or consumption.

[16]      National Australia Bank, Submission 30, p. 2.

[17]      Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 2.

[18]      Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 2.

[19]      Section 4B (1a) of the Trade Practices Act states that 'a person shall be taken to have acquired particular goods as a consumer if, and only if:(i) the price of the goods did not exceed the prescribed amount ($40,000); or (ii) where that price exceeded the prescribed amount—the goods were of a kind ordinarily acquired for personal, domestic or household use or consumption or the goods consisted of a commercial road vehicle; and the person did not acquire the goods, or hold himself or herself out as acquiring the goods, for the purpose of re-supply or for the purpose of using them up or transforming them, in trade or commerce, in the course of a process of production or manufacture or of repairing or treating other goods or fixtures on land...'

[20]      Law Council of Australia, Submission 37, p. 2.

[21]      Ms Amanda Bodger, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 35.

[22]      The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6983.

Chapter 6 - The issues of 'detriment' and 'transparency'

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 20. See also Dr Steven Kennedy, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, pp. 8–9.

[2]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 20.

[3]        Ms Amanda Bodger, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 33.

[4]        National Australia Bank, Submission 30, p. 4.

[5]        Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 5.

[6]        ABACUS, Submission 33, p. 4.

[7]        Mr Mark Degotardi, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 25.

[8]        Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Submission 12, p. 8.

[9]        Mr Simon Writer, Manager, Consumer Policy Framework Unit, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 6.

[10]      Mr Simon Writer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 6.

[11]      Mr Simon Writer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 8.

[12]      Dr Steven Kennedy, General Manager, Competition and Consumer Policy Division, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, pp. 7–8.

[13]      ABACUS, Submission 33, p. 5.

[14]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 21.

[15]      Mr Simon Writer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 6.

[16]      Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 3.

[17]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 5.

[18]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 6.

[19]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 6.

[20]      Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Submission 12, p. 9.

[21]      Ms Nicole Rich, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 65.

[22]      Law Council of Australia, Introductory Statement to Senate Economics Committee, 21 August 2009.

[23]      Cited in Treasury, The Australian Consumer Law—Consultations on draft provisions on unfair contract terms, 11 May 2009, p. 2.

[24]      Treasury, The Australian Consumer Law—Consultations on draft provisions on unfair contract terms, 11 May 2009, p. 11.

[25]      See ABACUS, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, pp. 25–26; Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, pp. 27–28.

[26]      Ms Nicole Rich, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 65.

Chapter 7 - Prohibited contract terms and contract terms exempt from the bill's provisions

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 27.

[2]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 28.

[3]        Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, p. 2.

[4]        Mr Dave Poddar, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 31.

[5]        Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, p. 2.

[6]        Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, p. 3.

[7]        Mr Mark Degotardi, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 27.

[8]        Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, p. 3.

[9]        Mr Dave Poddar, Proof Committee Hansard, 21August 2009, p. 38.

[10]      FOXTEL Management Pty Ltd, Submission 7, p. 1.

[11]      Colonial First State Property Management, Submission 11, p. 4.

[12]      Mr Ian Tonking SC, Submission 4, p. 7. See also Explanatory Memorandum, p. 28.

[13]      Submission 4, pp. 7–8.

[14]      Business Council of Australia, Submission 20, p. 3.

[15]      Schedule 2, Part 2, Division 1, Section 5.

[16]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 7.

[17]      Ms Bodger, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 32.

[18]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 8.

[19]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 8.

[20]      GE, Submission 26, p. 2.

[21]      GE, Submission 26, p. 3.

[22]      ABACUS, Submission 33, p. 6.

Chapter 8 - The exclusion of insurance contracts

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum, pp. 31–32.

[2]        Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 11.

[3]        Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 14.

[4]        Ms Elizabeth Shearer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 43.

[5]        Ms Elizabeth Shearer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 43.

[6]        Mr David Coorey, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 47.

[7]        Ms Elizabeth Shearer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 43.

[8]        Ms Katherine Lane, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 43.

[9]        Insurance Law Service, Submission 36, p. 2.

[10]      Ms Katherine Lane, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 43.

[11]      Insurance Law Service, Submission 36, p. 5.

[12]      Insurance Council of Australia, Submission 43, p. 2.

[13]      Mr John Anning, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 2.

[14]      Mr John Anning, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 2.

[15]      Mr John Anning, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, pp. 2–3. The case is CGU Limited v AMP Financial Planning Pty Ltd. Mr Anning noted the statements of Justices Gleeson, Crennan and Kirby.

[16]      Mr John Anning, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 6.

[17]      Minter Ellison, Submission 45, p. 7.

[18]      Alan Cameron and Nancy Milne, Review of the Insurance Contracts Act, June 2004, http://icareview.treasury.gov.au/content/Reports/FinalReport/_downloads/ICAFinalReport.pdf The review was announced on 10 September 2003 by the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan and the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Senator the Hon Ian Campbell.

[19]      Alan Cameron and Nancy Milne, Review of the Insurance Contracts Act, June 2004, p. 53 http://icareview.treasury.gov.au/content/Reports/FinalReport/_downloads/ICAFinalReport.pdf

[20]      http://icareview.treasury.gov.au/content/_download/draft_legislation/draft_Bill.pdf

[21]      Mr John Anning, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 3.

[22]      IFSA, Submission 39, p. 3.

[23]      IFSA, Submission 39, p. 3.

[24]      Minter Ellison, Submission 45, p. 4. Product disclosure statements are currently regulated under Division 3, Part 7.9 of the Corporations Act 2001.

[25]      Submission 1, p. 7.

[26]      Submission 1, p. 8.

[27]      Submission 1, p. 9.

Chapter 9 - Enforcement provisions and remedies

[1]        See chapters 4–9 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

[2]        The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6987.

[3]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 54.

[4]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 54.

[5]        Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 4.

[6]        Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, p. 6.

[7]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 70.

[8]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 70.

[9]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 70.

[10]      GE, Submission 26, p. 6.

[11]      Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 4.

[12]      Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, p. 5.

[13]      Law Council of Australia, Submission 47, p. 6.

[14]      The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6988.

[15]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 66.

[16]      Master Builders Australia, Submission to the Treasury on the consultation paper 'An Australian Consumer Law', March 2009, p. 47.

[17]      Explanatory Memorandum, pp. 86–87.

[18]      The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6988.

[19]      Mr Writer, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 11.

[20]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 14. Productivity Commission, Review of Australia’s Consumer Policy Framework, Productivity Commission Inquiry Report No. 45, Volume 2 – Chapters and Appendixes, April 2008,p. 248.

[21]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 14.

[22]      Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 5.

[23]      Minter Ellison, Submission 45, p. 10.

[24]      Medibank Private V Cassidy [2002] FCAFC 290. See Explanatory Memorandum, p. 77.

[25]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 79.

[26]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 78.

[27]      The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6988.

[28]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 13. OECD Committee on Consumer Policy, Best Practices for Consumer Policy: Report on the Effectiveness of Enforcement Regimes, 20 December 2006, p. 54.

[29]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 13.

[30]      Consumer Action Law Centre, Submission 19, p. 13.

[31]      Brambles Limited, Submission 16, p. 5.

[32]      Mr Dave Poddar, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 33.

[33]      Ms Amanda Bodger, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 32.

[34]      Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 3.

[35]      Paula Pyburne, Bills Digest, 18 August 2009, No. 18, 2009–10, p. 11.

Chapter 10 - Committee's view and recommendations

[1]        See Ms Catriona Lowe, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 64.

[2]        See Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Proof Committee Hansard, 26 August 2009, p. 32.

[3]        See Mr Michael Delaney, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, pp. 18–19.

[4]        The Hon. Dr Craig Emerson, Second Reading Speech, House of Representatives Hansard, 24 June 2009, p. 6987.

[5]        Mr Mark Degotardi, Proof Committee Hansard, 21 August 2009, p. 26.

[6]        National Australia Bank, Submission 30, pp. 1–2.

[7]        Australian Bankers' Association, Submission 32, p. 1.

[8]        ABACUS, Submission 33, p. 9.