The Commonwealth Government has recently released a consultation paper dealing with whether the unfair contract term protections offered to consumers under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), should be extended to small business contracts.
The recent case of Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (Paciocco) has provided some much needed guidance on the 2012 High Court case of Andrews and Others v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (Andrews).
The Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 (Cth), amends the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and comprehensively reforms the credit reporting system in Australia.
The High Court of Australia has provided important guidance for companies advertising their services to the public in holding that TPG had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and had made false or misleading representations in advertisements for its ADSL2+ broadband services.
Recent proceedings brought against appliance giant Fisher & Paykel by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) offer businesses a timely reminder to consider whether their communications around extended warranties are in compliance with the policies enshrined in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Federal Court have recently demonstrated that they will take a strong stance against businesses that use unfair terms in their standard form consumer contracts.
The recent Federal Court decisions of Australian Competition Consumer Commission v Jewellery Group Pty Limited and Australian Competition Consumer Commission v Jewellery Group Pty Limited (No 2) illustrate why caution is needed when advertising price reductions.
On 15 June 2012, the Federal Court handed down a decision on the penalty for an internet service provider’s misleading and deceptive advertising. The judgment contains a warning to other Australian businesses.
In the course of what remains one of the most turbulent economic periods experienced, providers of financial services must remain vigilant when discussing, dissecting and analysing available market information and providing financial advice to clients.
On 13 February 2012 the ACCC provided an update on its use of new powers to issue infringement notices to business.