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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
Western Australia Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 CONTENTS Part 1 -- Preliminary 1. Short title 2 2. Commencement 2 Part 2 -- Builders' Registration Act 1939 amended 3. The Act amended 3 4. Section 3 amended 3 Part 3 -- Consumer Affairs Act 1971 amended 5. The Act amended 4 6. Section 23G amended 4 7. Section 23Q amended 4 8. Section 23R amended 4 9. Section 23U amended 5 Part 4 -- Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended 10. The Act amended 6 11. Part VA inserted 6 Part 5 -- Fair Trading Act 1987 amended 12. The Act amended 9 13. Part II Division 4 inserted 9 334--1 page i Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Contents Part 6 -- Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 amended 14. The Act amended 12 15. Section 12 amended 12 16. Section 13 amended 12 17. Section 23 amended 12 18. Section 24 amended 12 19. Section 25 amended 13 20. Section 28 amended 13 21. Section 29A amended 13 22. Section 33 amended 13 23. Section 36 amended 13 Part 7 -- Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 amended 24. The Act amended 14 25. Section 32K amended 14 Part 8 -- Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended 26. The Act amended 15 27. Section 12B inserted 15 28. Section 26 amended 15 29. Section 29 amended 16 30. Validation 16 31. Schedule 1 amended 16 Part 9 -- Retirement Villages Act 1992 amended 32. The Act amended 18 33. Section 5 amended 18 Part 10 -- Settlement Agents Act 1981 amended 34. The Act amended 19 35. Section 49 amended 19 page ii Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Contents Part 11 -- Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed 36. Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed 21 Part 12 -- Travel Agents Act 1985 amended 37. The Act amended 22 page iii Western Australia LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 A Bill for An Act to -- • amend the Builders' Registration Act 1939; • amend the Consumer Affairs Act 1971; • amend the Credit (Administration) Act 1984; • amend the Fair Trading Act 1987; • amend the Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978; • amend the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973; • amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1987; • amend the Retirement Villages Act 1992; • amend the Settlement Agents Act 1981; • amend the Travel Agents Act 1985; • repeal the Trading Stamp Act 1981, and for related purposes. The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows: page 1 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 1 Preliminary s. 1 Part 1 -- Preliminary 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004. 5 2. Commencement (1) This Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation. (2) Different days may be fixed under subsection (1) for different provisions. page 2 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Builders' Registration Act 1939 amended Part 2 s. 3 Part 2 -- Builders' Registration Act 1939 amended 3. The Act amended The amendments in this Part are to the Builders' Registration Act 1939*. 5 [* Reprinted as at 11 January 2002. For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 39.] 4. Section 3 amended Section 3(1a) is repealed and the following subsection is 10 inserted instead -- " (1a) Notwithstanding subsection (1) -- (a) section 4B applies throughout the State; and (b) sections 12A and 12B apply throughout the 15 State to building work that is home building work as defined in the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 section 3(1). ". page 3 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 3 Consumer Affairs Act 1971 amended s. 5 Part 3 -- Consumer Affairs Act 1971 amended 5. The Act amended The amendments in this Part are to the Consumer Affairs Act 1971*. 5 [* Reprint 4 as at 9 July 2004.] 6. Section 23G amended Section 23G(1) is amended by deleting "12 months" and inserting instead -- " 3 years ". 10 7. Section 23Q amended Section 23Q(6) is amended by inserting after "revoke" -- " or amend ". 8. Section 23R amended (1) Section 23R(2), (3) and (4) are repealed and the following 15 subsections are inserted instead -- " (2) The Commissioner may make an order prohibiting the supply of goods of a class or description without making a reference to the Committee under 20 section 23L(1) if -- (a) the supply of goods of that class or description is prohibited under a law of the Commonwealth or another State or a Territory; and (b) the Commissioner considers it necessary in the 25 interests of the safety of the public to make the order. (3) If the supply of goods of a class or description is allowed under a law of the Commonwealth or another State or a Territory subject to conditions or restrictions page 4 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Consumer Affairs Act 1971 amended Part 3 s. 9 relating to the goods, the Commissioner, without making a reference to the Committee under section 23L(1) in respect of goods of that class or description, may if he considers it necessary in the 5 interests of the safety of the public make an order allowing the supply of goods of that class or description in this State, subject to conditions or restrictions specified or referred to in the order being conditions or restrictions that are in conformity with 10 those specified or referred to under that law that relate to the goods. (4) For the avoidance of doubt, an order made under subsection (2) or (3) is not affected by the subsequent amendment, repeal or expiry of a law referred to in 15 those subsections. ". (2) Section 23R(6) is repealed and the following subsection is inserted instead -- " 20 (6) The Commissioner may by notice published in the Gazette on his own motion, or on the recommendation of the Committee, revoke or amend an order made under this section. ". 25 9. Section 23U amended Section 23U(2)(b) is amended by deleting "Standards Australia" and inserting instead -- " Standards Australia, as in force at the time of 30 adoption or as amended from time to time ". page 5 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 4 Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended s. 10 Part 4 -- Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended 10. The Act amended The amendment in this Part is to the Credit (Administration) Act 1984*. 5 [* Reprint 2 as at 6 August 2004.] 11. Part VA inserted After section 44 the following Part is inserted -- " Part VA -- Consumer Credit Fund 10 44A. Establishment of Consumer Credit Fund (1) There is hereby established a fund to be called the Consumer Credit Fund. (2) The Consumer Credit Fund is -- (a) to form part of the Trust Fund constituted under 15 section 9 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985; or (b) with the approval of the Treasurer, to be kept at a bank. (3) If subsection (2)(b) applies, moneys standing to the 20 credit of the Consumer Credit Fund that are not immediately required for the purposes of section 44C may, if approved by the Treasurer, be invested in any manner that moneys in the Public Bank Account may be invested under section 38 of the Financial 25 Administration and Audit Act 1985. page 6 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended Part 4 s. 11 44B. Payments to Consumer Credit Fund (1) The Consumer Credit Fund is the fund established and operated for the purpose of section 106 of the Consumer Credit (Western Australia) Code. 5 (2) The Consumer Credit Fund is to be credited with -- (a) any amount paid to the fund by a credit provider; (b) income derived from the investment, under section 44A, of moneys standing to the credit of 10 the Consumer Credit Fund; (c) any moneys received by, made available to or payable to the Consumer Credit Fund; (d) costs awarded to the Commissioner in a proceeding under this Act; 15 (e) costs awarded to the Commissioner in a proceeding under the Credit Act 1984. 44C. Payments from Consumer Credit Fund The Consumer Credit Fund is to be applied by the Commissioner for -- 20 (a) the payment of such moneys as are approved by the Minister, on the terms approved by the Minister, for the following purposes -- (i) providing financial counselling services to consumers; 25 (ii) giving legal advice to consumers about consumer credit; (iii) providing information about consumer credit; (iv) providing research about the use of 30 credit; (b) the administration of this Act; page 7 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 4 Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended s. 11 (c) legal fees incurred by the Commissioner, or costs awarded against the Commissioner, in a proceeding under this Act; and (d) legal fees incurred by the Commissioner, or 5 costs awarded against the Commissioner, in a proceeding under the Credit Act 1984. 44D. Report on operations of Consumer Credit Fund For the purposes of section 52 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, the administration 10 of the Consumer Credit Fund is to be taken to be a service of the department principally assisting the Minister in the administration of this Act. ". page 8 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Fair Trading Act 1987 amended Part 5 s. 12 Part 5 -- Fair Trading Act 1987 amended 12. The Act amended The amendment in this Part is to the Fair Trading Act 1987*. [* Reprinted as at 16 November 2001. 5 For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 131 and Act No. 4 of 2004.] 13. Part II Division 4 inserted After section 32 the following Division is inserted in Part II -- 10 " Division 4 -- Third party trading schemes 32A. Interpretation In this Division -- "approved third party trading scheme" means a 15 third party trading scheme in relation to which a notice has been given under section 32B; "prohibited third party trading scheme" means a third party trading scheme that is the subject of a declaration under section 32C; 20 "third party trading scheme" means a scheme or arrangement under which the acquisition of goods or services by a consumer from a supplier is a condition, or one of a number of conditions, compliance with which gives rise, or apparently 25 gives rise, to an entitlement to a benefit from a third party in the form of goods or services or some discount, concession, or advantage in connection with the acquisition of goods or services. page 9 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 5 Fair Trading Act 1987 amended s. 13 32B. Minister may approve third party trading scheme (1) The Minister may, on application, give notice in writing that a specified third party trading scheme is an approved third party trading scheme. 5 (2) The Minister is not to approve a third party trading scheme under this section unless satisfied that the scheme is genuine, reasonable, and not contrary to the interests of consumers. (3) An approval under this section may be given subject to 10 such conditions as the Minister thinks fit and specifies in the notice to the applicant. (4) An application under this section is to be supported by such information as the Minister may require. 32C. Prohibition of third party trading scheme 15 (1) The Commissioner may recommend to the Minister that a third party trading scheme be declared to be a prohibited third party trading scheme if -- (a) the scheme is not an approved third party trading scheme and the Commissioner is of the 20 opinion that the scheme is not genuine and reasonable or is contrary to the interests of consumers; (b) in the case of an approved third party trading scheme, a condition of the approval has been 25 contravened or not complied with; or (c) in the case of an approved third party trading scheme, the scheme is conducted in a manner that is not genuine, reasonable or in the interests of consumers. 30 (2) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Commissioner, by notice published in the Gazette, page 10 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Fair Trading Act 1987 amended Part 5 s. 13 declare a third party trading scheme to be a prohibited third party trading scheme. (3) The Minister may by notice published in the Gazette revoke a declaration under this section. 5 32D. Offence A person who -- (a) acts as a promoter of a prohibited third party trading scheme; (b) as a party to a prohibited third party trading 10 scheme, supplies goods or services; or (c) publishes an advertisement relating to a prohibited third party trading scheme or causes such an advertisement to be published, commits an offence. 15 Penalty: $5 000. 32E. Codes of practice The Governor may make regulations prescribing codes of practice to be complied with by persons who act as promoters of third party trading schemes or supply 20 goods or services as parties to such schemes. ". page 11 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 6 Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 amended s. 14 Part 6 -- Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 amended 14. The Act amended The amendments in this Part are to the Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978*. 5 [* Reprinted as at 3 May 2002. For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 210.] 15. Section 12 amended Section 12(6) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting 10 instead -- " $5 000. ". 16. Section 13 amended Section 13(2) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting instead -- 15 " $5 000. ". 17. Section 23 amended Section 23(1) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting instead -- " $50 000. ". 20 18. Section 24 amended Section 24(1) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting instead -- " $50 000. ". page 12 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 amended Part 6 s. 19 19. Section 25 amended Section 25(3) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting instead -- " $5 000. ". 5 20. Section 28 amended Section 28(1)(b) is amended by deleting "$500" and inserting instead -- " $10 000 ". 21. Section 29A amended 10 Section 29A(1) is amended by deleting "$250." and inserting instead -- " $2 000. ". 22. Section 33 amended Section 33(2) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting 15 instead -- " $5 000. ". 23. Section 36 amended Section 36(2)(g) is amended by deleting "$100" and inserting instead -- 20 " $1 000 ". page 13 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 7 Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 amended s. 24 Part 7 -- Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 amended 24. The Act amended The amendments in this Part are to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973*. 5 [* Reprinted as at 14 November 1996. For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 258.] 25. Section 32K amended Section 32K(4) is amended by deleting "agent" and inserting 10 instead -- " dealer ". page 14 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended Part 8 s. 26 Part 8 -- Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended 26. The Act amended The amendments in this Part are to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987*. 5 [* Reprinted as at 22 January 1999. For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 328-9.] 27. Section 12B inserted After section 12A the following section is inserted -- 10 " 12B. Review of decisions of clerk A matter in respect of which the clerk has exercised jurisdiction under section 12A may be reviewed by a magistrate in accordance with the regulations. 15 ". 28. Section 26 amended Section 26(1) is repealed and the following subsection is inserted instead -- " 20 (1) An order made by -- (a) a magistrate under this Act; or (b) the clerk acting under section 12A, which has not been reviewed by a magistrate and in respect of which the time prescribed within 25 which the review is to commence has expired, is final and binding on all parties to the proceedings in which the order is made and on all persons who under this Act could have become entitled to be joined as a party to the proceeding in which the order is made, and 30 no appeal shall lie in respect of the order. ". page 15 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 8 Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended s. 29 29. Section 29 amended Section 29(4)(c) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed form" and inserting instead -- " in a form approved by the Minister ". 5 30. Validation (1) Regulation 8 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 is, and always was, as valid and effective as it would have been if this Part had been in operation at the time the regulation was made. 10 (2) An act or thing done by a magistrate purporting to review a matter under regulation 8 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 is, and always was, as valid and effective as it would have been if this Part had been in operation at the time the act or thing was done. 15 (3) The rights and liabilities of all persons purportedly affected by the review of a matter under regulation 8 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 are, and always have been, the same as if this Part had been in operation at the time the matter was reviewed. 20 31. Schedule 1 amended (1) The amendments in this section are to Schedule 1. (2) Clause 2(1)(a) is amended by inserting after "either directly" -- " , including by electronic means, ". (3) Clause 5(1)(a) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed form" 25 and inserting instead -- " in a form approved by the Minister ". (4) Clause 5(1)(a)(ii) is amended by inserting after "lodged" -- " , including lodged by facsimile or electronic means, ". page 16 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended Part 8 s. 31 (5) Clause 7(1)(a) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed form" and inserting instead -- " in a form approved by the Minister ". (6) Clause 7(3)(a) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed form" 5 and inserting instead -- " in a form approved by the Minister ". page 17 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 9 Retirement Villages Act 1992 amended s. 32 Part 9 -- Retirement Villages Act 1992 amended 32. The Act amended The amendments in this Part are to the Retirement Villages Act 1992*. 5 [* Reprinted as at 22 January 1999. For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 330.] 33. Section 5 amended (1) Section 5 is amended by inserting before "Except as" the 10 subsection designation "(1)". (2) At the end of section 5 the following subsection is inserted -- " (2) This Act does not apply to a resident or prospective resident of a retirement village or to the administering 15 body of that retirement village if -- (a) the administering body is an "approved provider" as defined in the Aged Care Act 1997 Schedule 1 of the Commonwealth in relation to the residential premises used or intended to be 20 used as a place of residence by the resident or prospective resident; (b) the administering body provides, or is to provide, the resident or prospective resident with "residential care" as defined in the Aged 25 Care Act 1997 section 41-3 of the Commonwealth; and (c) the resident or prospective resident is receiving, or is entitled to receive, residential care in respect of which the administering body is 30 eligible for a "residential care subsidy" as defined in the Aged Care Act 1997 Schedule 1 of the Commonwealth. ". page 18 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Settlement Agents Act 1981 amended Part 10 s. 34 Part 10 -- Settlement Agents Act 1981 amended 34. The Act amended The amendment in this Part is to the Settlement Agents Act 1981*. 5 [* Reprinted as at 3 November 2000. For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 350.] 35. Section 49 amended After section 49(5) the following subsections are inserted -- 10 " (5a) If -- (a) a settlement of a real estate transaction or a business transaction is completed; (b) the settlement agent who arranged or effected 15 the settlement received moneys in respect of the real estate transaction or business transaction in the course of arranging or effecting the settlement; and (c) the settlement agent is authorised in writing by 20 the vendor to make a payment from those moneys to an agent as payment of the whole or part of the commission, reward or remuneration to which the agent is entitled for arranging the real estate transaction or business transaction to 25 which the settlement relates, the settlement agent may, despite subsections (4) and (5), pay to the agent from those moneys such sum as the settlement agent is so authorised to pay. (5b) In subsection (5a) -- 30 "agent" means an agent as defined in section 4(1) of the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978 who page 19 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 10 Settlement Agents Act 1981 amended s. 35 is entitled to a commission, reward or remuneration for arranging the real estate transaction or business transaction to which a settlement relates; 5 "vendor" means the person or persons lawfully entitled to receive the purchase price in respect of a real estate transaction or business transaction. ". page 20 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed Part 11 s. 36 Part 11 -- Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed 36. Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed [* Reprint 1 as at 9 May 2003.] The Trading Stamp Act 1981 is repealed. page 21 Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004 Part 12 Travel Agents Act 1985 amended s. 37 Part 12 -- Travel Agents Act 1985 amended 37. The Act amended (1) The amendments in this Part are to the Travel Agents Act 1985*. [* Reprinted as at 6 June 2003. 5 For subsequent amendments see Western Australian Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 402 and Acts Nos. 50 of 2003 and 4 of 2004.] (2) Section 5(2) is amended as follows: (a) in paragraph (b) by deleting "or any statutory 10 corporation representing the Crown"; (b) in paragraph (c) by inserting after "prescribed" -- " statutory corporation or ".
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