The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) commenced nationally on 1 January 2011.  The ACL is applied in the A.C.T. through the Fair Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Act 1992.  The ACL introduces new national:

• rights and remedies in relation to unfair terms in standard form contracts;
• laws ensuring consumer rights when purchasing goods and services, replacing the previous laws on conditions and warranties;
• product safety law and enforcement regime;
• laws for unsolicited consumer agreements, which replace the previous A.C.T. laws on door-to-door sales and other direct marketing legislation; and,
• simple rules for lay-by agreements.

The ACL will be of benefit to the Australian community by:

• giving Australian consumers a standard set of rights and protections wherever they are in Australia;
• simplifying the law and reducing the risk of non-compliant business practices;
• replacing requirements set out in many laws with a single national consumer law; and,
• creating a national enforcement regime, with consistant enforcement powers for Australia's consumer protection agencies to take effective action for consumers.

The following links provide more detailed information concerning the ACL:

• Door-to-Door Sales
• Guarantees, Warranties and Refunds
• Sales Practices for Business and Consumers
• Unfair Business Practices

The ACL has replaced the following A.C.T. fair trading and consumer protection laws:

• Door-to-Door Trading Act 1991
• Fair Trading Act 1992 (as it pertained to product safety and unfair practice provisions)
• Fair Trading (Consumer Affairs) Act 1973
• Lay-by Sales Agreements Act 1963