Consumer law (ACL)

Suppliers of products containing button + coin batteries must meet 2022 mandatory standard.

Schedule 2 ACL — suppliers must comply with mandatory product safety standards + permanent bans.

From November 2023, unfair contract terms carry pecuniary penalties — up to $100M per term (from 28 March 2026).

Goods and services supplied to consumers come with automatic statutory guarantees that cannot be excluded.

Food sold in Australia must carry country-of-origin labelling per the 2016 Information Standard.

Suppliers must notify the ACCC within 2 days of initiating a voluntary consumer product recall.

Loyalty program T&Cs governed by ACL — UCT regime + misleading conduct.

Furniture retailer, The Sleeping Giant Pty Ltd trading as James Lane, and children’s play equipment retailer, Systems Operations Pty Ltd trading as Vuly Play Group, have each paid penalties after the ACCC issued the retailers with infringement notices for allegedly making misleading representations to consumers about the duration of their Black Friday sales.

Furniture retailer, The Sleeping Giant Pty Ltd trading as James Lane, and children’s play equipment retailer, Systems Operations Pty Ltd trading as Vuly Play Group, have each paid penalties after the ACCC issued the retailers with infringement notices for allegedly making misleading representations to consumers about the duration of their Black Friday sales.

A Victorian timber wholesaler and importer, Bayswood Timber Wholesalers Pty Ltd, has paid a penalty of $19,800 for making allegedly false or misleading statements about the suitability of its timber to be used in certain building applications in defined bushfire-prone areas.

Digital Imaging Express Pty Ltd, trading as digiDirect, has paid $99,000 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with five infringement notices for making allegedly misleading discount claims.

Online retailer Dysck Pty Ltd, trading as Neptune Blanket, has paid $59,400 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with three infringement notices for making allegedly misleading statements to two consumers about their rights, and not including mandatory wording in its warranty against defects.

The Federal Court has found that dating site eHarmony made misleading representations to consumers about the pricing, renewal and duration of its online dating memberships in statements online and in its app, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.

The Federal Court has today dismissed an appeal by retailer Fewstone Pty Ltd, trading as City Beach, against a $14 million penalty for selling non-compliant button battery products, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.

Debt collection company Marshall Freeman Collections Pty Ltd has paid $59,400 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with three infringement notices in relation to its debt collection activities, and has provided a court enforceable undertaking to the ACCC.

Venue Smart Pty Ltd paid an infringement notice issued by the ACCC for alleged contravention of Section 61(3) of the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes-Franchising) Regulation 2024.

The Federal Court has ordered JustAnswer LLC to pay penalties of $10 million for making misleading representations to consumers about the cost of its online question and answer service, and making misleading claims that it was approved or affiliated with the Fair Work Ombudsman when this was not the case, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.

Lactalis Australia Pty Ltd has paid $59,400 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with three infringement notices for allegedly making false or misleading representations in the labelling of two of its milk products.

Online travel agency Vacaciones eDreams, S.L, trading as eDreams, has paid $59,400 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with three infringement notices for allegedly making misleading pricing claims about its subscription-based memberships and failing to prominently display the total cost of an annual subscription.

HSK United Pty Ltd, which operates the websites Pain Free Aussies and Modern Aussies, has paid $79,200 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with four infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law.

Doreen Egg Aust Pty Ltd has paid $39,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued two infringement notices for alleged false or misleading claims that its eggs were free-range.

WeFlex Pty Ltd, a fitness support company that is an NDIS provider, has paid a penalty of $19,800 after the ACCC issued it with an infringement notice for allegedly making a misleading statement about NDIS funding in a social media advertisement.

Ugg footwear retailer Christofi Investments has paid $39,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with two infringement notices for allegedly making misleading pricing claims on the Ugg Originals and Ugg Australia Classic websites.

Hismile, an Australian oral and personal care company, has paid $138,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with seven infringement notices for alleged false and misleading representations in its social media advertising.

The Federal Court has found that training provider RSA Express (trading as Express Online Training) engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and made false or misleading representations in relation to several of its online courses, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.

Western Australian produce companies, Fruitico Pty Ltd (Fruitico) and Fresh Express Produce Pty Ltd (Fresh Express), have each paid penalties of $99,000 after the ACCC issued each business with five infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Horticulture Code.

Western Australian produce companies, Fruitico Pty Ltd (Fruitico) and Fresh Express Produce Pty Ltd (Fresh Express), have each paid penalties of $99,000 after the ACCC issued each business with five infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Horticulture Code.