Consumer Protection and the Trade Practices Act 1974–1975 (CTH)

Abstract

While State legislatures have responded, to some extent, to pressure for greater legal protection of consumers, consumer protection had never been an area of legislative activity on a national level until the passing of the Trade Practices Act 1974–1975 (Cth). Mr Goldring examines the effect of the Trade Practices Act 1974–1975 (Cth) on the area of consumer protection in Australia, and notes that the Act, in addition to introducing regulation of restrictive trade practices on a scale beyond that previously experienced in Australia, includes sweeping legislative innovations aimed to protect consumers. The Act is shown to prohibit certain types of undesirable commerical activity and gives to a wide range of potential plaintiffs the right to take action for damages and injunctive relief. The terms implied by law into contracts of sale of goods and hire-purchase are extended and similar terms are included in other types of contract.