Key Documents
In June 2015, Australian Consumer Affairs Ministers, through the Legislative and Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs (CAF) requested Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) to initiate a broad-reaching review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). In April 2017, CAANZ released the Final Report of the ACL Review (the Review).
The Review identified some deficiencies embedded in the current product safety system, and put forward legislative proposals relating to product safety, including the introduction of a General Safety Provision (GSP) to improve the product safety framework.
In August 2017, CAF Ministers asked officials to undertake regulatory impact assessment of a GSP. Ministers noted that further consultation was needed on design and implementation issues.
The Commonwealth Treasury (Treasury) is undertaking this assessment and public consultation on behalf of the Commonwealth, states and territories. This Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) provides an overview of the current product safety system, explains identified problems and outlines some potential reform options for feedback, including options for a GSP.