Victorian Numbered Acts

AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW AND FAIR TRADING ACT 2012 (NO. 21 OF 2012)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   1.      Purposes  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Definitions  
   4.      Crown bound  
   5.      Extra-territorial application of this Act  

   PART 2.1--DEFINITIONS

   6.      Definitions  

   PART 2.2--APPLICATION OF AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW

   7.      The Australian Consumer Law text  
   8.      Application of Australian Consumer Law  
   9.      Future modifications of Australian Consumer Law text  
   10.     Meaning of generic terms in Australian Consumer Law for purposes of this jurisdiction  
   11.     Interpretation of Australian Consumer Law  
   12.     Application of Australian Consumer Law  

   PART 2.3--REFERENCES TO AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW

   13.     References to Australian Consumer Law  
   14.     References to Australian Consumer Law of other jurisdictions  

   PART 2.4--APPLICATION OF AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW TO CROWN

   15.     Part does not apply to Commonwealth  
   16.     Application law of this jurisdiction  
   17.     Application law of other jurisdictions  
   18.     Activities that are not business  
   19.     Crown not liable to pecuniary penalty or prosecution  

   PART 2.5--MISCELLANEOUS

   20.     Conferral of functions and powers on certain bodies  
   21.     No doubling-up of liabilities  

   PART 3.1--IMPLIED CONDITIONS AND WARRANTIES IN CERTAIN CONTRACTS OF SUPPLY

           Division 1--Supply of goods or services

   22.     Limitation of liability in relation to supply of recreational services  
   23.     Exemption from waiver form requirement  
   24.     Rescission for innocent misrepresentation  
   25.     Discharge or rescission of contract of supply of goods  
   26.     When does a discharge or rescission have effect?  
   27.     Liability of supplier and person conducting antecedent negotiations  
   28.     Indemnity for supplier or dealer  
   29.     Certain contracts or provisions void  
   30.     Penalty for including void provision relating to antecedent negotiations  

           Division 2--General

   31.     Application of Goods Act 1958 to contracts of supply  
   32.     Limit of liability of guarantors  
   33.     Limit of liability under security  
   34.     Contract of supply not illegal etc.  

   PART 3.2--FRUSTRATED CONTRACTS

           Division 1--Introductory

   35.     Contracts to which this Part applies  

           Division 2--Consequences of frustrated contract

   36.     Adjustment of amounts paid or payable to parties to discharged contracts  
   37.     Court may allow amounts paid or payable to be recovered or paid  
   38.     Parties to pay an amount for valuable benefits obtained  
   39.     Calculation of expenses incurred  
   40.     Circumstances in which amounts payable under contract of insurance excluded  

           Division 3--General

   41.     Circumstances in which contract provisions continue to have effect despite frustration  
   42.     Performed part of contract not frustrated  
   43.     Nature of action  
   44.     Limitation period  

   PART 4.1--DEBT COLLECTION

   45.     Prohibited debt collection practices  
   46.     Additional remedy for contraventions of section 45  
   47.     Certain persons prohibited from engaging in debt collection  
   48.     Applications by prohibited persons for permission to engage in debt collection  
   49.     Permission from the Authority  
   50.     Authority may impose conditions  
   51.     Application for review  
   52.     Offence to charge debtor for cost of debt collection  
   53.     Offence to purchase debt for the purpose of collection  

   PART 4.2--DISPOSAL OF UNCOLLECTED GOODS

           Division 1--Preliminary

   54.     Uncollected goods  
   55.     Relevant charge  
   56.     Application  
   57.     Common law  

           Division 2--Disposal of Uncollected Goods

   58.     Receiver may dispose of uncollected goods  
   59.     Payment of relevant charge  
   60.     Low value uncollected goods  
   61.     Medium value uncollected goods  
   62.     High value uncollected goods  
   63.     Additional requirement for disposal of motor vehicles  
   64.     Details of registered operator  
   65.     Perishable goods  
   66.     Form of notices under this Division  
   67.     Giving notice  

           Division 3--Applications to court, court order and related provisions

   68.     Application to court for disposal order  
   69.     Other applications to court  
   70.     Court orders  
   71.     Payment of relevant charge  
   72.     Effect of other proceeding  

           Division 4--Miscellaneous

   73.     Proceeds of sale  
   74.     Records held by receiver  
   75.     Good title  
   76.     Receiver to provide purchaser of motor vehicle with receipt  
   77.     Application of other provisions  

   PART 4.3--FAIR REPORTING

   78.     Correction of errors  
   79.     Consumer may apply to Magistrates' Court where agent fails to correct information etc.  
   80.     Powers of Court on application  

   PART 5.1--INTRODUCTION AGENTS

           Division 1--Interpretation

   81.     Meaning of introduction agent  
   82.     Meaning of introduction service  
   83.     Who carries on a business?  
   84.     Introduction agency not to use sex work service premises  

           Division 2--Persons who are not introduction agents

   85.     Effect of this Division  
   86.     Exemption for activities with a community purpose  
   87.     Exemption for non-profit activities  
   88.     Exemption for publishers of advertisements etc.  
   89.     Exemption for information service providers  
   90.     Exemption for organisers of dances etc.  
   91.     Other exemptions  

           Division 3--Persons who must not act as introduction agents

   92.     Certain persons not to act as introduction agents  

           Division 4--Permission for disqualified persons to act as introduction agents

   93.     Disqualified person may apply for permission to act as an introduction agent  
   94.     Permission to act as an introduction agent  
   95.     Authority may impose conditions on permission  
   96.     Application for review  

           Division 5--Introduction agreements

   97.     What must an introduction agreement contain?  
   98.     Restriction on prepayments  
   99.     Person may withdraw from agreement within 3 days without penalty  

   PART 5.2--LIABILITY OF ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS

   100.    Application of common law  
   101.    Liability of accommodation providers under this Part  
   102.    Limitation on accommodation providers' liability for property of guest  
   103.    Accommodation provider to provide safekeeping service  
   104.    Notice about this Part  
   105.    Innkeeper's lien  
   106.    Chapter 8 not to apply  

   PART 6.1--ADMINISTRATION

   107.    Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria  
   108.    Staff  
   109.    Functions of the Director  
   110.    Powers of the Director  
   111.    Powers of delegation  
   112.    Director's report  

   PART 6.2--POWERS OF DIRECTOR

           Division 1--Disputes

   113.    Making a complaint  
   114.    Conciliation and mediation  
   115.    Powers of the Director in relation to proceedings on behalf of consumers  
   116.    Proceedings and costs  
   117.    Grants of legal assistance  
   118.    Costs and expenses relating to proceedings to which assisted person is a party  

           Division 2--Show cause notices

   119.    Show cause notice  

           Division 3--Licence suspension

   120.    Director may suspend licence  
   121.    Effect of suspension  
   122.    Lapsing or continuation of suspension  
   123.    Extension of period  
   124.    Right of review  

           Division 4--Obtaining information, documents and evidence

   125.    Power to obtain information and documents to monitor compliance  
   126.    Power to obtain information, documents and evidence  
   127.    Powers in relation to documents  
   128.    Copies of seized documents  
   129.    Retention and return of seized documents  
   130.    Magistrates' Court may extend 3 month period  
   131.    Complaints  
   132.    Service of documents  
   133.    Information sharing  

           Division 5--Victorian Consumer Law Fund

   134.    Victorian Consumer Law Fund  
   135.    Order for payment to non-party consumers  
   136.    Special purpose grants  
   137.    Administration expenses  

   PART 6.3--CODES OF PRACTICE

   138.    Preparation of draft code of practice by the Director  
   139.    Consideration of draft code of practice  
   140.    Prescribing codes of practice  
   141.    Offence to breach code of practice  

   PART 6.4--INSPECTION POWERS

           Division 1--Inspectors

   142.    Appointment of inspectors  
   143.    Inspector's identification  
   144.    Production of identification  

           Division 2--Requirements to produce information

   145.    Inspector may seek court order  
   146.    Inspection of documents under court order  
   147.    Notification of execution of court order  
   148.    Publisher required to produce information  

           Division 3--Entry and search of premises with consent

   149.    Entry and search with consent  
   150.    Notice before entry and search  
   151.    Acknowledgement of consent to entry and search  

           Division 4--Entry and search of premises without consent

   152.    Entry of premises open to the public  
   153.    Emergency entry  
   154.    Powers during emergency entry  
   155.    Entry without consent or warrant  
   156.    Use or seizure of electronic equipment at premises  

           Division 5--Entry and search of premises with warrant

   157.    Search warrants  
   158.    Form and content of search warrants  
   159.    Announcement before entry  
   160.    Details of warrant to be given to occupier  
   161.    Seizure of things not mentioned in the warrant  

           Division 6--Embargo notices

   162.    Embargo notices  
   163.    Monitoring compliance with embargo notices  
   164.    Search warrants in relation to embargo notices  
   165.    Form and content of search warrants in relation to embargo notices  

           Division 7--Documents

   166.    Copies of seized documents  
   167.    Retention and return of seized documents or things  
   168.    Magistrates' Court may extend 3 month period  

           Division 8--Offences

   169.    Refusal or failure to comply with requirement  
   170.    Protection against self-incrimination  
   171.    Offence to give false or misleading information  
   172.    Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector  
   173.    Offence to impersonate inspector  

           Division 9--Miscellaneous

   174.    Court may order destruction of dangerous goods  
   175.    Taking samples  
   176.    Entry to be reported to the Director  
   177.    Requirement to assist inspector during entry  
   178.    Register of exercise of powers of entry  
   179.    Complaints  
   180.    Service of documents  
   181.    Confidentiality  
   182.    What is a consumer and trader dispute?  
   183.    What is a small claim?  
   184.    Settlement of consumer and trader disputes or small claims  
   185.    Additional powers of VCAT  
   186.    Who can ask VCAT to resolve a consumer and trader dispute?  
   187.    Exclusion of other jurisdiction  
   188.    More appropriate forum  
   189.    Small claim commenced in court  
   190.    Small Claims Suspense Account  
   191.    VCAT may hear dispute regardless of related criminal proceedings  
   192.    VCAT may order the provision of information  

   PART 8.1--GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS

   193.    Prosecutions of offences  
   194.    Who can bring proceedings for offences?  
   195.    Contraventions by bodies corporate  
   196.    Conduct by officers, employees or agents  

   PART 8.2--REMEDIES AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   197.    Interpretation  
   198.    Undertakings  
   199.    Copy of undertaking  
   200.    Register of undertakings  
   201.    Injunctions to restrain conduct  
   202.    Injunctions to do an act or thing  
   203.    Interim injunctions  
   204.    Power to rescind or vary injunctions  
   205.    Cease trading injunctions  
   206.    Interim cease trading injunctions  
   207.    Power to rescind or vary cease trading injunctions  
   208.    Undertakings as to damages and costs  
   209.    Powers of court if requirement of Director or inspector not complied with  
   210.    Non-punitive orders—Corrective advertising orders  
   211.    Punitive orders—Adverse publicity orders  
   212.    Orders to prohibit payment of money or transfer of other property  
   213.    Defences  
   214.    Evidence  
   215.    Findings in proceedings to be evidence  
   216.    Orders against persons found to have contravened this Act  
   217.    Actions for damages  
   218.    Awards of compensation  

   PART 8.3--INFRINGEMENT NOTICES

   219.    Power to serve a notice  

   PART 8.4--SAFETY AND INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

   220.    Interim bans, recall notices and safety warning notices  
   221.    Notice of ban or notice  
   222.    Review of ban order or compulsory recall notice  

   PART 8.5--ENFORCEMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW (VICTORIA)

   223.    References to courts and VCAT  
   224.    Jurisdiction of courts and VCAT  
   225.    Jurisdictional limit of Magistrates' Court not to apply to pecuniary penalties under Australian Consumer Law (Victoria)  
   226.    Orders against persons found to have contravened Australian Consumer Law (Victoria)  
   227.    Application of Australian Consumer Law (Victoria) in respect of bills and receipts under Legal Profession Act 2004  
   228.    Public warning statements  
   229.    Complaints etc. are privileged  
   230.    Disapplication of certain provisions to Australian Consumer Law (Victoria)  
   231.    Supreme Court—Limitation of jurisdiction  
   232.    Regulations  
   233.     Repeal of Fair Trading Act 1999  
   234.    Repeal of Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 1961  
   235.    Repeal of Carriers and Innkeepers Act 1958  
   236.    Repeal of Landlord and Tenant Act 1958  
   237.    Savings and transitional provisions  
   238.    Closure of the Consumer Credit Fund  
   239.    Consequential and other amendments  
   240.    Amendments relating to Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012  
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