Trade Practice

The Trade Practices Act (TPA) which is Commonwealth legislation and its NSW counterpart the Fair Trading Act (FTA) are used for the preservation and enhancement of competition amongst businesses and for the protection of the consumers from the businesses. Federal laws are enforced by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the state laws are enforced by the NSW Office of Fair Trading (NSW OFT). These laws can also be used by businesses and consumers to obtain remedies against those who have infringed these laws.

These laws prohibit anti-competitive behaviours such as:

• price fixing - where competitors agree to charge the same or similar price hence there is no actual or real price difference between the competing products.
• market sharing - where the competitors agree to share the market on the basis of geography, revenue, customers and product.
• boycotts - where the competitors agree not to acquire or refuse to supply goods or service to a business or consumer (primary) and where the competitors agree to prevent another from acquiring or refusing to supply goods or service to a third party (secondary).
• misuse of market power - where a very large business uses its market power to the detriment of a smaller competitor.
• exclusive dealing - where a supplier of goods or service prohibits the purchaser from dealing with the supplier's competitor including refusing to supply or re-supply.
• resale price maintenance - where the suppliers set a price and prevent the business from selling at a different or discounted price.

These laws also protect consumers from behaviours such as:

• misleading or deceptive conduct
• misleading representations about the future supply of goods and services
• false and misleading representations
• false representations in relation to land
• misleading conduct in relation to employment
• not specifying the full cash price
• falsely offering prizes
• misleading the public as to the nature or characteristics of goods and services
• bait advertising
• referral selling
• accepting payment without intending to supply
• making false and misleading statements about work-at-home schemes
• harassments or coercion
• sending unsolicited debit or credit cards
• demanding payment for unsolicited goods or services

The laws also govern whether the products are manufactured in Australia or imported from overseas and enforcement can include:

• consumer product standards
• warning notices in respect of defective product
• voluntary product recall in respect of defective product
• compulsory product recall in respect of defective product
• emergency orders in respect of defective product

If you believe that you need more information regarding the above or you as a consumer or your business may be affected by anything mentioned above, please consult us.

Contact us now for Fast, Accurate and Timely legal advice

Phone LAC Lawyers on NSW 1300 799 888 or VIC 1300 734 638 or send us an email