Version No. 071
Consumer Affairs Act 1972
Act No. 8276/1972
Version incorporating amendments as at 1 July 1998
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
1. Short title 1 2. Division 1 3. Savings 3 4. Definitions 4
PART 1—ADMINISTRATION 6 Division 1—Consumer Affairs Committee 6
5. Consumer Affairs Committee 6 6. Functions of the Committee 6 7. Annual report to Minister 7
Division 2—The Director and Officers 7
8. Duties of the Director 7 9. Staff 9
PART 1A—PROCEEDINGS ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS 10 9A. Definition 10 9B. Director may institute or defend proceedings on behalf of
consumers 10 9C.
Conduct of proceedings and payment of costs 11 PART 2—DISHONEST OR UNDESIRABLE TRADE PRACTICES 13 Division 1—Trading Stamps or Coupons 13
10. Definitions 13 11. Trading stamps abolished 13 12. Meaning of "goods" in certain sections 14
Division 2—False or Misleading Advertising 15
13. False or misleading advertisements 15
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Section Page Division 2A—Misleading Marking of Prices 16 13A. Cash price of goods to be indicated 16 Division 2B—Mock Auctions 18 13B. Definitions 18 13C. Prohibition of mock auctions 19 13D. Repealed 20 13E. Savings of other remedies or actions 20 13F. Regulations 21 Division 3—Door to Door Sales 21
14. Definitions and application of Division 21 15. Credit purchase agreement or offer to be in writing etc. 27 16. Purchaser may terminate agreement or offer 27 17. Effect of termination of credit purchase agreements and offers 29 18. Effect of termination of credit purchase agreement where goods given as trade-in 32 19. Offences 34 20. Certain provisions in agreements and offers void 35
20A. Vendor or person acting for vendor to carry identification card 36 Division 4—Unordered Goods and Services 37 21–31. Repealed 37
32. Regulations 37
Division 5—Pyramid Selling Schemes 38 32A–32E. Repealed 38 Division 6—Referral Selling 38 32F. Repealed 38 PART 3—MARKING OF MERCHANDISE 39 Division 1—Merchandise Marks 39
33. Definitions 39 34. Certain goods not to be sold unless prescribed particulars as to quality, composition etc. attached thereto 41 35. Certain goods not to be sold unless country of origin indicated thereon 42 36. False trade descriptions 42 37. False representations as to Royal Warrant etc. 43 38. Textile products not be sold unless labelled with particulars of composition etc. 43 39. Search warrants 45 40. Offences 46
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Section Page
41. Regulations 47
Division 2—Footwear Regulation 47
42. Definitions 47 43. Certain particulars to be marked on boots and shoes 48 44. Defence 50 45. Soles not to contain weighting substance 51 46. Powers of inspectors 51 47. Proof of manufacture for sale etc. 52 48. Section 43 not to apply to goods for export outside Australia 52 49. Regulations 52
Division 3—Furniture Regulation 53
50. Definition 53 51. Stamping of furniture in factories 53 52. Furniture made in Victoria to be stamped 53 53. Certain particulars to be shown by stamp 54 54. Failure to stamp furniture an offence 54 55. Imported furniture to be stamped 54 56. Penalty 54 57. Stamps to be pointed…