Fair Trading Amendment Act 2013 (WA)

Western Australia

Fair Trading Amendment Act 2013

Western Australia

Fair Trading Amendment Act 2013

CONTENTS

• Shorttitle

  1.                                                                                     1

• 2

  .            Commencement                                                                 1

• Actamended

  3.                                                                                1

• Section15amended

  4.                                                                      1

• Section19amended

  5.                                                                      1

• Section20deleted

  6.                                                                         1

• Section32replaced

  7.                                                                       1

• OffencesagainstACL(WA)arecrimes

  32.                               1

• Section36amended

  8.                                                                      1

• Section48amended

  9.                                                                      1

• Section49amended

  10.                                                                    1

• Section58amended

  11.                                                                    1

• Section59amended

  12.                                                                    1

• Section90amended

  13.                                                                    1

• Section107amended

  14.                                                                  1

• Schedule1headingreplaced

  15.                                                        1

Schedule 1 — Acts that override the Australian Consumer Law (WA) Part 3‑3

• Schedule2amended

  16.                                                                    1

             

Western Australia

Fair Trading Amendment Act 2013

No. 11 of 2013

An Act to amend the Fair Trading Act 2010.

[Assented to 4 October 2013]

The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:

1.Short title

This is the Fair Trading Amendment Act 2013.

2.Commencement

This Act comes into operation as follows —

• (a)

  sections 1 and 2 — on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent;

• (b)

  the rest of the Act — on a day fixed by proclamation, and different days may be fixed for different provisions.

3.Act amended

This Act amends the Fair Trading Act 2010.

4.Section 15 amended

• (1)

  In section 15(1) delete “this Act or a regulation made under this Act” and insert:

   

the Australian Consumer Law (WA) Part 3‑3 or an applied regulation

• (2)

  After section 15(1) insert:

   
• (2A)

  In subsection (1) —

applied regulation means a regulation that —

• (a)

  is referred to in section 19(1)(b); and

• (b)

  is applied by section 19(2)(a); and

• (c)

  has effect for the purposes of the Australian Consumer Law (WA) Part 3‑3.

   

5.Section 19 amended

• (1)

  In section 19(1)(a) delete “the commencement of this section” and insert:

   

1 January 2013

• (2)

  In section 19(3) delete “20,”.

6.Section 20 deleted

Delete section 20.

7.Section 32 replaced

Delete section 32 and insert:

32. Offences against ACL (WA) are crimes

• (1)

  A reference in this section to a person involved in the commission of an offence against the Australian Consumer Law (WA) is to be read as a reference to a person who —

  • (a)

    has aided, abetted, counselled or procured the commission of the offence; or

  • (b)

    has induced, whether by threats or promises or otherwise, the commission of the offence; or

  • (c)

    has been in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the commission of the offence; or

  • (d)

    has conspired with others to effect the commission of the offence; or

  • (e)

    has attempted to commit the offence, or to do any act of a kind referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).

• (2)

  A person who —

  • (a)

    commits an offence against the Australian Consumer Law (WA); or

  • (b)

    is involved in the commission of an offence against the Australian Consumer Law (WA),

is guilty of a crime.

Penalty: the penalty set out in the Australian Consumer Law (WA).

Summary conviction penalty: the lesser of a fine of $36 000 or the maximum penalty provided by the Australian Consumer Law (WA) for the offence.

8.Section 36 amended

In section 36(1) delete “the commencement of section 19,” and insert:

1 January 2013,

9.Section 48 amended

• (1)

  Delete section 48(1)(b)(ii) and insert:

   
  • (ii)

    that it is in the public interest that —

• (I)

  the Commissioner take or, as the case requires, defend those proceedings on behalf of the complainant; or

• (II)

  if proceedings are already being taken or defended by the complainant with respect to the matter — the Commissioner assume the conduct or defence of those proceedings on behalf of the complainant.

   
• (2)

  In section 48(2) and (3) delete “take or defend” and insert:

   

take, defend or assume the conduct or defence of

• Note:

  The heading to amended section 48 is to read:

Commissioner may take or defend, or assume the conduct or defence of, proceedings relating to contravention of code of practice

10.Section 49 amended

In section 49(1) delete “instituted or defended by the Commissioner” and insert:

the Commissioner institutes, defends or assumes the conduct or defence of

• Note:

  The heading to amended section 49 is to read:

Provisions for proceedings Commissioner institutes, defends or assumes conduct or defence of

11.Section 58 amended

• (1)

  In section 58(1)(a)(ii) and (b) delete “institute or defend” and insert:

   

institute, defend or assume the conduct or defence of

• (2)

  In section 58(2)(a) after “against the consumer,” insert:

   

or assume the conduct or defence of proceedings already commenced by or against the consumer,

• (3)

  In section 58(2)(b) delete “business.” and insert:

   

business, or assume the conduct or defence of proceedings already commenced by or against the business.

• (4)

  In section 58(3) and (4)(a) delete “institute or defend” and insert:

   

institute, defend or assume the conduct or defence of

• (5)

  In section 58(4)(b) delete “instituting or defending” and insert:

   

instituting, defending or assuming the conduct or defence of

• Note:

  The heading to amended section 58 is to read:

Instituting, defending or assuming conduct or defence of legal proceedings on behalf of consumers or businesses

12.Section 59 amended

In section 59(1) delete “instituted or defended by the Commissioner” and insert:

the Commissioner institutes, defends or assumes the conduct or defence of

• Note:

  The heading to amended section 59 is to read:

Provisions for proceedings Commissioner institutes, defends or assumes conduct or defence of

13.Section 90 amended

In section 90 delete “Division” and insert:

Part

14.Section 107 amended

In section 107:

• (a)

  delete “commits an offence”;

• (b)

  delete “person.” and insert:

   

person is guilty of a crime.

 

• (c)

  after the Penalty insert:

   

Summary conviction penalty: a fine of $36 000.

15.Schedule 1 heading replaced

Delete the heading to Schedule 1 and insert:

Schedule 1 — Acts that override the Australian Consumer Law (WA) Part 3‑3

16.Schedule 2 amended

In Schedule 2 insert in alphabetical order:

Debt Collectors Licensing Act 1964

Employment Agents Act 1976

Travel Agents Act 1985