Australia: Consumer and competition law - Penalty regime

Authors

Charles YC Chew, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

144324

Publication Details

C. YC. Chew, 'Australia: Consumer and competition law - Penalty regime' (2019) 30 (12) International Company and Commercial Law Review N-101-N-102.

Abstract

In the midst of the recent election and political leadership chaos in Canberra, one could easily be forgiven for failing to notice the passing by the Australian Parliament in August 2018 of legislation which substantially increases the maximum pecuniary penalties that may be ordered under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). Significantly higher financial penalties for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law (which is Sch.2 of the Competition and Consumer Act) were on the way with the new legislation, which, after having received the Royal Assent, was to take effect by 1 July 2018. The legislation will not have retrospective effect.