Competition and Consumer Act 2010

No. 51, 1974

Compilation No. 143

Compilation date:                              1 January 2023

Includes amendments up to:            Act No. 96, 2022

Registered:                                         2 March 2023

This compilation is in 4 volumes

Volume 1:       sections 1–53ZZC

Volume 2:       sections 55–110

Volume 3:       sections 10.01–187

Volume 4:       Schedules

                        Endnotes

Each volume has its own contents

This compilation includes commenced amendments made by Act No. 140, 2021.

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 January 2023 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Schedule 1—The Schedule version of Part IV                                 1

Part 1—Schedule version of Part IV                                                                          1

Division 1—Cartel conduct                                                                                       1

Subdivision A—Introduction                                                                                   1

45AA.... Simplified outline................................................................................ 1

45AB.... Definitions.......................................................................................... 1

45AC.... Extended meaning of party................................................................. 2

45AD.... Cartel provisions................................................................................. 3

45AE..... Meaning of expressions in other provisions of this Act...................... 9

Subdivision B—Offences etc.                                                                                  9

45AF..... Making a contract etc. containing a cartel provision............................ 9

45AG.... Giving effect to a cartel provision..................................................... 10

45AH.... Determining guilt.............................................................................. 11

45AI...... Court may make related civil orders.................................................. 12

45AIA... Section 4AB of the Crimes Act does not apply................................. 12

Subdivision C—Civil penalty provisions                                                           12

45AJ..... Making a contract etc. containing a cartel provision.......................... 12

45AK.... Giving effect to a cartel provision..................................................... 12

Subdivision D—Exceptions                                                                                    13

45AL..... Conduct notified................................................................................ 13

45AM... Cartel provision subject to grant of authorisation.............................. 13

45AN.... Contracts, arrangements or understandings between related bodies corporate          14

45AO.... Joint ventures—prosecution.............................................................. 14

45AP..... Joint ventures—civil penalty proceedings......................................... 15

45AQ.... Resale price maintenance................................................................... 16

45AR.... Exclusive dealing.............................................................................. 16

45AS..... Dual listed company arrangement..................................................... 17

45AT..... Acquisition of shares or assets.......................................................... 18

45AU.... Collective acquisition of goods or services by the parties to a contract, arrangement or understanding    18

Division 2—Other provisions                                                                                 19

45.......... Contracts, arrangements or understandings that restrict dealings or affect competition            19

45D....... Secondary boycotts for the purpose of causing substantial loss or damage              23

45DA.... Secondary boycotts for the purpose of causing substantial lessening of competition               23

45DC.... Involvement and liability of employee organisations......................... 24

45DD.... Situations in which boycotts permitted.............................................. 26

45E........ Prohibition of contracts, arrangements or understandings affecting the supply or acquisition of goods or services 29

45EA..... Provisions contravening section 45E not to be given effect.............. 33

45EB..... Sections 45D to 45EA do not affect operation of other provisions of Part               33

46.......... Misuse of market power................................................................... 33

47.......... Exclusive dealing.............................................................................. 35

48.......... Resale price maintenance................................................................... 42

49.......... Dual listed company arrangements that affect competition................ 42

50.......... Prohibition of acquisitions that would result in a substantial lessening of competition             44

51.......... Exceptions......................................................................................... 45

Schedule 2—The Australian Consumer Law                                 50

Chapter 1—Introduction                                                                                                 65

1............ Application of this Schedule............................................................. 65

2............ Definitions........................................................................................ 65

3............ Meaning of consumer....................................................................... 81

4............ Misleading representations with respect to future matters................. 85

5............ When donations are treated as supplies or acquisitions..................... 86

6............ Related bodies corporate................................................................... 86

7............ Meaning of manufacturer................................................................. 86

8............ Goods affixed to land or premises.................................................... 88

9............ Meaning of safety defect in relation to goods.................................... 88

10.......... Asserting a right to payment............................................................. 89

11.......... References to acquisition, supply and re‑supply............................... 89

12.......... Application of Schedule in relation to leases and licences of land and buildings      90

13.......... Loss or damage to include injury...................................................... 91

14.......... Meaning of continuing credit contract.............................................. 91

15.......... Contraventions of this Schedule........................................................ 92

16.......... Severability....................................................................................... 92

17.......... References to provisions in this Schedule......................................... 93

Chapter 2—General protections                                                                                 94

Part 2‑1—Misleading or deceptive conduct                                                   94

18.......... Misleading or deceptive conduct....................................................... 94

19.......... Application of this Part to information providers.............................. 94

Part 2‑2—Unconscionable conduct                                                                     97

20.......... Unconscionable conduct within the meaning of the unwritten law.... 97

21.......... Unconscionable conduct in connection with goods or services......... 97

22.......... Matters the court may have regard to for the purposes of section 21 98

22A....... Presumptions relating to whether representations are misleading.... 101

Part 2‑3—Unfair contract terms                                                                        102

23.......... Unfair terms of consumer contracts and small business contracts... 102

24.......... Meaning of unfair........................................................................... 103

25.......... Examples of unfair terms................................................................ 103

26.......... Terms that define main subject matter of consumer contracts or small business contracts etc. are unaffected          105

27.......... Standard form contracts.................................................................. 105

28.......... Contracts to which this Part does not apply.................................... 106

Chapter 3—Specific protections                                                                               107

Part 3‑1—Unfair practices                                                                                    107

Division 1—False or misleading representations etc.                                   107

29.......... False or misleading representations about goods or services.......... 107

30.......... False or misleading representations about sale etc. of land.............. 109

31.......... Misleading conduct relating to employment.................................... 109

32.......... Offering rebates, gifts, prizes etc..................................................... 110

33.......... Misleading conduct as to the nature etc. of goods........................... 111

34.......... Misleading conduct as to the nature etc. of services........................ 111

35.......... Bait advertising............................................................................... 111

36.......... Wrongly accepting payment............................................................ 112

37.......... Misleading representations about certain business activities........... 114

38.......... Application of provisions of this Division to information providers 115

Division 2—Unsolicited supplies                                                                        117

39.......... Unsolicited cards etc....................................................................... 117

40.......... Assertion of right to payment for unsolicited goods or services..... 118

41.......... Liability etc. of recipient for unsolicited goods................................ 119

42.......... Liability of recipient for unsolicited services................................... 120

43.......... Assertion of right to payment for unauthorised entries or advertisements                120

Division 3—Pyramid schemes                                                                            123

44.......... Participation in pyramid schemes.................................................... 123

45.......... Meaning of pyramid scheme........................................................... 123

46.......... Marketing schemes as pyramid schemes......................................... 124

Division 4—Pricing                                                                                               126

47.......... Multiple pricing............................................................................... 126

48.......... Single price to be specified in certain circumstances....................... 127

Division 5—Other unfair practices                                                                   131

49.......... Referral selling................................................................................ 131

50.......... Harassment and coercion................................................................ 131

Part 3‑2—Consumer transactions                                                                     132

Division 1—Consumer guarantees                                                                    132

Subdivision A—Guarantees relating to the supply of goods