Businesses must work within federal and state fair trading laws to make sure they're treating their customers and other businesses fairly.
Australian Consumer Law
The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) is the national law that protects consumers from unfair and unsafe business practices when buying goods and services. The ACL also gives businesses working across more than one state or territory consistency and clarity on consumer’s rights and obligations.
Small business - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
What the ACL covers
The ACL applies to all states and covers:
- trade practices
- unfair contract terms
- unfair practices and unfair trading
- consumer guarantees
- door-to-door sales and direct marketing
- lay-by agreements
- product safety
- information standards that apply to services and goods.
The ACL website has more information for businesses, and guides are available for download.
State law
South Australia’s Fair Trading Act 1987 applies the Australian Consumer Law as a law of South Australia, and provides some additional protections for consumers, codes for specific industries and sets out the role and functions of the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs.
Related information
Other websites
Industry codes of conduct - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
