New Fair Trading powers will save time and money for local consumers, and resolve disputes with businesses quicker, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced on Wednesday.
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The Fair Trading Legislation Amendment (Consumer Guarantee Directions) Bill, granting the new powers, had passed the NSW Parliament.
“The NSW Government’s reforms will give the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner the power to direct a business to repair, replace, or refund a good,” Mr Marshall said.
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“This means fair, quick, and cheap resolutions for consumers and businesses, and will be an alternative to the often costly process of courts and tribunals.
“Consumers are often confused about their rights, and disputes still accounted for more than 20 per cent of legal problems people in NSW experience.”
The 2016 Australian Consumer Survey also found 76 per cent of people reported a problem within the first six months of purchasing a good.
“Ideally, consumers and businesses work together to resolve issues directly,” Mr Marshall said. “When this fails, however, Fair Trading works with them to help solve the problem.
“If a resolution is still not possible, rather than the case going to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or being dropped, consumers can now seek a direction that the trader repair, replace or refund the good.
“This is about enhancing Fair Trading’s existing powers to get the very best outcome for local consumers, and give our local businesses certainty around their obligations under Australian Consumer Law.
“This is a big win for consumers, and it will help ensure they get the fair go they deserve in the marketplace.”
The Commissioner’s power to make directions will be focused on goods worth between $25 and $3,000, with the reforms taking effect from January 1 2019.
To be eligible for a consumer guarantee direction, cases must meet certain criteria. For more information on the criteria, visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.
