Fair Trading Act 1989
Queensland Fair
Trading Act
1989 Current as at [Not applicable]
Indicative reprint note This is an
unofficial version of a
reprint of this Act that incorporates all proposed
amendments to the Act included in the Queensland Civil and
Administrative Tribunal and Other Legislation
Amendment Bill 2018. This indicative reprint
has been prepared
for information only—
it is
not an authorised reprint of the Act
. The point-in-time date for this
indicative reprint is the introduction date for the Queensland
Civil and Administrative Tribunal and Other Legislation
Amendment Bill 2018—15 November 2018.
Detailed information about
indicative reprints
is available on
the Information page of the
Queensland legislation website.
©
State of Queensland 2018 This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Not authorised —indicative only
Queensland Fair Trading Act
1989 Contents Part 1
1 3 4
4A 4B 5
5A 5C 5D
7 Part 2 8
9 10 11
12 13 Part 3
Division 1 14
Division 2 15
16 17 Page
Preliminary Short title and
citation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 7 Objective of
this Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 7 This part does not apply for the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) 7
Application of Act . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Reference to this Act or to a particular
provision of the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Engaging in conduct and related matters
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Further meaning of acquisition or supply of
services . . . . . . . . . 12
Meaning of loss or damage and amount of loss
or damage . . . . 12 Crown
bound .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Commissioner for
fair trading Commissioner for fair trading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
Other officers .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Delegation by commissioner .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Functions of commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Acting inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Aid
by government departments in supplying information .
. . . . . 15
The
Australian Consumer Law Definitions Definitions for
pt 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
Application of
Australian Consumer Law
The
Australian Consumer Law text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Application of
Australian Consumer Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Future
modifications of Australian Consumer
Law text
. . . . . . . .
19
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Contents Not
authorised —indicative
only 18 19
20 Division 3 21
22 Division 4 23
24 25 26
27 Division 5 28
29 Part 3A Division 1
30 31 32
33 34 35
36 37 Division 2
38 39 40
41 42 43
44 45 Page 2
Meaning of generic terms in Australian
Consumer Law for purposes of this
jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Interpretation
of Australian Consumer Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19 Application of Australian Consumer Law
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
References to Australian Consumer Law
References to Australian Consumer Law
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
References
to Australian
Consumer Law
of other
jurisdictions . .
21
Application of
Australian Consumer Law to jurisdictions Division does
not apply
to Commonwealth .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
Application
law of
this jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
Application law
of other
jurisdictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
Activities that are not business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
Jurisdictions
not liable
to penalty
or prosecution .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Miscellaneous Conferral of
functions and
powers on
certain bodies . . . . . . . . .
23
No
doubling-up of liabilities
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
Infringement notices Purpose and
effect of this division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 25 Issuing infringement notice
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26 Matters to be included in infringement
notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27 Amount
of penalty
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
Effect of
compliance with infringement notice
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Effect of failure to comply with infringement
notice .
. . . . . . . . . .
32
Infringement notice compliance
period for
infringement notice . . 33
Withdrawal of
infringement notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Embargo notices Definition for
div 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Embargo notices .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
Embargo period for embargo notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Multiple embargo notice for supply of the same kind of goods or services from the same
premises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 38 Power of inspector to secure
goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 38 Power of inspector to secure equipment
used to supply services 38 Approval
relating to embargoed goods or services . . . . . . . . . .
. 39 Compliance with embargo notice
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Division 3 46
47 Division 4 48
49 50 50A
50B 50C 50D
51 Division 5 52
53 53A 54
55 Part 3B 56
57 58 59
60 61 62
63 64 65
66 67 Fair Trading Act
1989 Contents Orders for the
preservation of property Court may make order for preserving
money or other property held by a person . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 41 Compliance with orders made under this
division . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Court jurisdiction Purpose and
scope of division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 44 Jurisdiction extends to provisions
having wider application . . . . 45
Proceedings
referred to
court of
competent jurisdiction . . . . . . . 45
Tribunal’s jurisdiction for particular
matters relating to motor vehicles
48 Expedited hearing .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Costs . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Constitution of
tribunal .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Proceedings referred to particular court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous
supporting provision for
proceedings for recovery of pecuniary penalties . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
59 Interpretation of offence provisions .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Interpretation of unsolicited consumer
agreement permitted hours provisions and termination period
provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
61
Gazettal of
notice under Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) about interim ban, recall notice
or safety
warning .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
Limitation
on right
to itemised
bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63
Provisions utilising Australian
Consumer Law
(Queensland) provisions Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) not
limited .
. . . . . . . . . 63
Defences . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Prosecutions to be commenced within 3 years
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Preference must be given to compensation for
victims . . . . . . . . 64 Penalties for
contraventions of the same nature for FTA offence provisions . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 64 General provision about injunctions
and other remedies . . . . . . 65
Undertakings for matters arising other than
under Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
Public warning notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
Pecuniary penalties for FTA consumer offence
provisions .
. . . .
66
Injunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67 Actions for damages
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 67 Orders
for compensation or
redress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
Page 3 Not authorised —indicative only
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Contents 68
69 70 71
72 73 Part 4
Division 2 83
84 Division 3 84A
85 85A 86
87 Division 4 88A
Part
5 Division 1 88B
89 90 91
Division 1A Subdivision
1 91A
91B Subdivision 2 91C 91D
91E 91F Subdivision
3 Non-punitive
orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 68 Adverse publicity orders
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68 Orders disqualifying a person from
managing a corporation . . . . 68
Privilege against exposure to penalty or
forfeiture—disqualification from managing a
corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 69 Publication of advertisement in the
ordinary course of business 69
Supplying services for the purpose of
resupply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Safety and codes of practice
Safety provisions Safety standards
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Compliance with
safety standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
71
Ministerial prohibition Definition for
div 3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Minister may
make orders
prohibiting or restricting
supply of
dangerous or undesirable
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 72 Interim orders . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 72 Offence . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 73 Seizure etc. of goods in certain cases
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Codes of practice Codes of practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
Enforcement and
remedies Powers of
commissioner and inspectors Definitions for
div 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
Powers of
inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Power to obtain information .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
Obstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
General power
of inspectors
to seize
goods Seizing and
returning goods General power to seize goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82
Returning the seized goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Appealing against seizure of the goods
Where and
how to
start appeal
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
Hearing
procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
Powers of Magistrates Court on appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
Appeal to District Court on questions of law only
. . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Forfeiting the
goods Page
4
91G Division 1B 91L
Division 2 92
92B 93 94
95 97 101
103A Part 6 104
105 106 107
109 110 112
113 114 Part 7
115 Part 8 117
Part
9 118 Part 10 119
120 Fair Trading Act 1989
Contents Court hearing
offence proceeding may order forfeiture of seized goods
85 Register of undertakings
Register of undertakings . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Offences, court enforcement and
remedies Offences . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 86 Attempts
to commit
offences .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Continuing
offences . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Proceedings for
offences .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
Conduct by
directors, servants or agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Proceedings for
an offence
against this
Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
91
Mode
of enforcement of compensation .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Examination costs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
General Impersonation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Reference to consumer authorities
and other
matters restricted 93 Savings of rights and remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
94
Contracting out
prohibited .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Limitation of action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
94
Preservation of
secrecy .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
Regulation-making power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Approval of forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Transitional provisions for
Equity and
Fair Trading
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
1999 Transitional provision for references to
commissioner for consumer affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
Transitional provision for
Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
2003 Transitional
provision for actions
for damages
and compensation and other
remedial orders—TPA,
ss 82
and 87
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. 100 Transitional provision for
Criminal Proceeds Confiscation and Other
Acts Amendment Act
2009 Existing
exemptions and applications for
exemptions for section
63 100 Transitional provisions for
Fair Trading (Australian Consumer
Law) Amendment
Act 2010 Definitions for
this part
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. 101 Transitional provision for
references to Office of Consumer
Affairs or Page
5 Not authorised —indicative only
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Contents 121
122 123 Schedule
1 2 3
4 5 6
Office of Fair Trading . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transitional
provision relating to undertakings and the register of
undertakings . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Proceedings . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Unfair contract terms . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subject matters
for regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . Functions, powers and duties
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Qualifications
and appointments .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Supply of services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prevention of injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prevention of
deception of consumers
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Matters ancillary to Act
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 101
102 102 104
104 104
104
104
104 105
Page
6
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Fair Trading Act 1989 Part 1
Preliminary [s 1] An
Act to make
provision with
respect to
certain unfair
or undesirable trade practices, to
regulate the supply of goods and services, to
provide for a commissioner for fair trading and for
related purposes Part 1
Preliminary 1
Short
title and citation This Act may be cited as the
Fair
Trading Act 1989 . 3 Objective of this
Act The principal objective
of this Act
is to improve
consumer wellbeing
through consumer
empowerment and
protection, fostering
effective competition and
enabling the
confident participation of
consumers in
markets in
which both
consumers and suppliers trade fairly.
4 This part does not apply for the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) This part (other
than sections 1 and 3) does not apply for the interpretation
or operation of the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland). Example—
The definitions in
section 5 of
this Act
do not apply
for the interpretation
of the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland). That law
has
its own list of definitions in section 2 of that law.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
7
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 1
Preliminary [s 4A] 4A
Application of Act (1)
This
Act applies to and in relation to— (a)
persons carrying on business within
Queensland; or (b) bodies corporate
incorporated or
registered under
the law of Queensland; or
(c) persons ordinarily resident in
Queensland; or (d) persons otherwise connected with
Queensland. (2) Subject to
subsection (1), this
Act extends to
conduct, and
other acts, matters and things, occurring or
existing outside or partly outside
Queensland (whether
within or
outside Australia). 4B
Reference to this Act or to a particular
provision of the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
(1) To remove any doubt, a reference in
this Act to this Act may be taken
to include a
reference to
the Australian Consumer
Law
(Queensland). Example— Section 90
(Power to obtain information) refers to any matter relevant
to
the operation or enforcement of this Act, which would include
any matter relevant
to the operation
or enforcement of
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). (2) In this
Act, a
reference to
a particular provision
of the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) is a reference to the provision of
that number in schedule 2 of the Competition and
Consumer Act, applying as a law of
Queensland under part 3. 5 Definitions In this
Act— ACL(Q) means the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland). acquire
, in
relation to services, includes accept. application
law , for part 3, see section 14(1).
Page
8 Current as at [Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 1 Preliminary [s 5]
Not authorised —indicative only
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) means
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) as
provided for
in part 3. Australian
Consumer Law text see section 14(1). code
of practice means
a code of
practice prescribed by
regulation under section 88A.
commissioner means the
commissioner for fair trading. Competition and
Consumer Act means the Competition
and Consumer Act 2010 (Cwlth).
consumer has the same
meaning as it has in the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). consumer contract
has the same
meaning as
it has in
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). District Court means the
District Court of Queensland. embargo
notice see section 39(1). embargo
period ,
for an embargo
notice, means
the period stated in the
embargo notice under section 39(4)(c) or (d). evidential
burden , in relation to a matter, means the burden
of adducing or pointing to evidence that
suggests a reasonable possibility that the matter exists or
does not exist. executive officer
, of a
corporation, means
a person who
is concerned with,
or takes part
in, the corporation’s management, whether
or not the
person is
a director or
the person’s position is given the name of
executive officer. extended application see section
56(1). FTA consumer offence provision
means— (a)
section 84(1); or (b)
section 86. FTA offence
provision means— (a)
an
FTA consumer offence provision; or (b)
section 45; or Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 9
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 1
Preliminary [s 5] (c)
section 47; or (d)
section 90(4); or (e)
section 91; or (f)
section 92(1)(b), (c), (d) or (e); or
(g) section 92B; or (h)
section 104; or (i)
section 105. goods
has the same
meaning as
it has in
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). infringement notice
means an
infringement notice
issued under section
31(1). infringement notice compliance period
see
section 36(1). infringement notice provision
see
section 31(2). inspector means—
(a) the commissioner; or
(b) an inspector appointed for the
purposes of this Act. instrument , for part 3,
see section 14(1). Intergovernmental Agreement
,
for part 3, see section 14(1). involved
, in relation
to a contravention, or
conduct that
constitutes a contravention, of a provision
of this Act, has the same meaning
as it has
in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) in
relation to
a contravention, or
conduct that
constitutes a contravention, of a provision
of that law. jurisdiction see section
14(1). law , for part 3, see section
14(1). listed corporation has the meaning
given by the Corporations Act, section 9. Magistrates Court
has the meaning
given by
the Acts Interpretation
Act 1954 , schedule 1. Page 10
Current as at [Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 1 Preliminary [s 5]
Not authorised —indicative only
Note— The Competition
and Consumer Act confers jurisdiction on the Federal
Magistrates Court for particular matters
arising under the Australian Consumer Law
applying as a law of the Commonwealth, but that court
does not
have jurisdiction in
relation to
matters arising
under the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland).
modifications , for part 3,
see section 14(1). month , for part 3,
see section 14(1). participating jurisdiction
,
for part 3, see section 14(1). premises
has the same
meaning as
it has in
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). product related service has the same
meaning as it has in the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). published , in relation to
a statement, includes— (a) inserted in a
publication; and (b) publicly exhibited in any place;
and (c) contained in
a document or
other thing
capable of
providing information that is given or sent
to any person or left at the person’s address; and
(d) broadcast by
radio or
television or
otherwise publicly
announced by any means; and
(e) reproduced electronically.
records includes
any record of
information however
compiled, recorded
or stored and
any books, documents
or writings. send
includes deliver. services
has the same
meaning as
it has in
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). State , for part 3,
see section 14(1). supply has
the same meaning
as it has
in the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). Supreme Court means the
Supreme Court of Queensland. Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 11
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 1
Preliminary [s 5A] Territory
,
for part 3, see section 14(1). the
tribunal means QCAT. this
jurisdiction , for part 3, see section 14(1).
trade or
commerce has
the same meaning
as it has
in the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland). 5A Engaging in
conduct and related matters The
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
2(2) applies for
the interpretation of
this Act
in relation to
the matters mentioned in it.
5C Further meaning of acquisition or
supply of services In this Act— (a)
a reference to
the supply or
acquisition of
services includes
a reference to
agreeing to
supply or
acquire services;
and (b) a reference
to the supply
or acquisition of
services includes
a reference to
the supply or
acquisition of
services together
with property
or other services,
or both. 5D
Meaning of loss or
damage and amount of loss or damage
In
this Act— (a) a reference to loss or damage, other
than a reference to the amount of any loss or damage, includes a
reference to injury; and (b)
a
reference to the amount of any loss or damage includes
a
reference to damages in respect of an injury. Page 12
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 2 Commissioner for fair trading
[s
7] 7 Crown bound This Act binds
the Crown in right of the State and also, so far
as
the legislative power of the State extends, in all its other
capacities, subject to the following—
(a) the Crown
shall not
be liable to
a penalty for
a contravention of this Act;
(b) an agent of the Crown who contravenes
this Act shall be liable for any penalty prescribed by this
Act in relation to such a contravention. Part 2
Commissioner for fair trading
8 Commissioner for fair trading
(1) There is to be a commissioner for fair
trading. (2) Subject to
subsection (3), the
person who
is the chief
executive is,
without further
appointment, also
the commissioner for fair trading.
(3) If the
chief executive
appoints another
person to
be the commissioner, that
person is
the commissioner while
the appointment is in force.
(4) A person
may hold the
office of
commissioner as
well as
holding an office under the
Public Service Act 2008 .
(5) Judicial notice must be taken of the
commissioner’s signature. 9 Other
officers The inspectors and
other officers
necessary to
assist the
commissioner are
to be appointed
under the
Public Service
Act
2008 . Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
13
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 2 Commissioner for fair trading
[s
10] 10 Delegation by commissioner
The
commissioner may delegate the commissioner’s powers
under this or another Act to a public
service officer employed in the department. Not
authorised —indicative
only 11 Functions of
commissioner (1) The functions of the commissioner
are— (a) to administer the provisions of this
Act and to facilitate its operation; and (b)
to promote the
interests of
consumers and
persons negotiating or
considering the
acquisition of
goods or
services as
consumers and
to assist them
to a greater
awareness in
relation to
their assessment and
use of goods or
services; and (c) to collect,
examine and
disseminate information in
respect of
matters affecting
or likely to
affect the
interests of
consumers or
persons negotiating or
considering the
acquisition of
goods or
services as
consumers; and (d)
to
receive and consider complaints concerning matters
affecting or likely to affect the interests
of consumers or persons negotiating or
considering the
acquisition of
goods or services as consumers and, if the
commissioner is of the
opinion that
such action
is warranted, to
investigate the
complaints and
take such
action in
respect of
the matter as
seems proper
to the commissioner;
and (e) to investigate fraudulent or
deceptive practices
in relation to matters that affect or are
likely to affect the interests of
consumers or
persons negotiating or
considering the
acquisition of
goods or
services as
consumers and
to take such
action in
respect of
the practices as seems proper to the
commissioner; and (f) to advise
and assist persons
who seek from
the commissioner information or
guidance on
matters Page 14
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 2 Commissioner for fair trading
[s
12] affecting or likely to affect their
interests as consumers or as persons negotiating or
considering the acquisition of goods or
services as consumers; and (g) to
encourage and
undertake the
dissemination of
information concerning consumer affairs to
producers, manufacturers and suppliers of goods or
services; and (h) to take action to promote and ensure
safety in the supply of goods and services; and
(i) to administer such
provisions of
other Acts
and discharge such
other functions
as the Minister
may direct the commissioner to administer
or discharge. (2) Subsection (1) shall
not be construed
to require the
commissioner or any officer of the
department to give, or hold himself or
herself out as ready or competent to give, to any
person advice concerning the rights and
liabilities in law of the person concerning any matter, or
to aid in the enforcement of the rights of the person.
12 Acting inspectors The Minister or
the commissioner may appoint in writing any person
who holds for
the time being
any office under
the Crown in
right of
the State to
act as an
inspector for
the purposes of this Act.
13 Aid by government departments in
supplying information Except in respect of information which
under any Act is not to be divulged,
the chief executive
of each department shall
cooperate and
shall cause
the officers under
the chief executive’s
control to cooperate with the commissioner and shall
render assistance in
the provision of
information required by the
commissioner for the purposes of this Act. Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 15
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3 The Australian Consumer Law
[s
14] Part 3 The Australian
Consumer Law Not authorised —indicative
only Division 1 Definitions 14
Definitions for pt 3 (1)
In
this part, unless the contrary intention appears—
application law means—
(a) a law
of a participating jurisdiction that
applies the
Australian Consumer
Law, either
with or
without modifications,
as a law of the participating jurisdiction; or
(b) any regulations or
other legislative instrument made
under a law described in paragraph (a);
or (c) the Australian Consumer Law, applying
as a law of the participating jurisdiction, either
with or
without modifications. Australian Consumer
Law means (according to
the context)— (a)
the
Australian Consumer Law text; or (b)
the
Australian Consumer Law text, applying as a law of
a participating jurisdiction, either
with or
without modifications. Australian
Consumer Law text means the text described in
section 15. instrument means
any document whatever,
including the
following— (a)
an
Act or an instrument made under an Act; (b)
a
law of this jurisdiction or an instrument made under
such
a law; (c) an award or other industrial
determination or order, or an industrial agreement;
Page
16 Current as at [Not applicable]
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Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3 The Australian Consumer Law
[s
14] (d) any other
order (whether
executive, judicial
or otherwise); (e)
a
notice, certificate or licence; (f)
an
agreement; (g) an application made,
information or
complaint laid,
affidavit sworn, or warrant issued, for any
purpose; (h) an indictment, presentment, summons or
writ; (i) any other pleading in, or process
issued in connection with, a legal or other
proceeding. Intergovernmental Agreement
means the Intergovernmental
Agreement for the Australian Consumer Law
made on 2 July 2009 between
the Commonwealth, the
State of
New South Wales, the State
of Victoria, the State of Queensland, the State of Western
Australia, the State of South Australia, the State of
Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory
and the Northern Territory of Australia, as in force for the
time being. jurisdiction means a State or
the Commonwealth. law , in relation to a Territory, means a
law of, or in force in, that Territory. modifications includes
additions, omissions and substitutions. month
means a period commencing at the beginning
of a day of one of the 12 months of the year and
ending immediately before the
beginning of
the corresponding day
of the next
month or, if there is no such corresponding
day, ending at the expiration of the next month.
notification ,
for a regulation, see
the Statutory Instruments Act 1992
,
section 47. participating jurisdiction
means a jurisdiction that is a party
to the Intergovernmental Agreement
and applies the
Australian Consumer Law as a law of the
jurisdiction, either with or without modifications.
State includes a
Territory. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
17
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 3
The Australian Consumer Law [s 15]
Territory means
the Australian Capital
Territory or
the Northern Territory of
Australia. this jurisdiction means
Queensland. (2) Terms used in this part and also in
the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) have the same
meanings in this part as they have in that
law. (3) For the purposes of this part—
(a) a jurisdiction is
taken to
have applied
the Australian Consumer Law as
a law of the jurisdiction if a law of the jurisdiction
substantially corresponds to the provisions of the
Australian Consumer Law text, as in force from time to time;
and (b) that corresponding law
is taken to
be the Australian Consumer Law, or
the Australian Consumer Law text, applying as a
law of that jurisdiction. Division 2 Application of
Australian Consumer Law 15 The Australian
Consumer Law text The Australian Consumer Law text consists
of— (a) schedule 2 to the Competition and
Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth; and (b)
the
regulations under section 139G of that Act. 16
Application of Australian Consumer
Law (1) The Australian Consumer Law text, as
in force from time to time— (a)
applies as a law of this jurisdiction;
and (b) as so
applying may
be referred to
as the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland); and (c) as so applying is a part of this
Act. Page 18 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3 The Australian Consumer Law
[s
17] (2) This section has effect subject to
sections 17, 18 and 19. Not authorised
—indicative only
17 Future modifications of Australian
Consumer Law text (1) A modification made
by a Commonwealth law
to the Australian Consumer
Law text after
the commencement of
this section
does not
apply under
section 16 if
the modification is declared by a
regulation under this Act to be excluded from
the operation of that section. (2)
A
regulation under subsection (1) has effect only if its
making is notified no
later than
2 months after
the date of
the modification. (3)
Subsection (1) ceases to apply to the
modification if a further regulation under this Act so
provides. (4) For the purposes of this section, the
date of the modification is the
date on
which the
Commonwealth Act
effecting the
modification receives
the Royal Assent
or the regulation effecting the
modification is registered under the Legislative Instruments Act
2003 of the Commonwealth. 18
Meaning of generic terms in Australian
Consumer Law for purposes of this jurisdiction
In
the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)— regulator
means the commissioner for fair trading
under this Act. 19 Interpretation of
Australian Consumer Law (1) The
Acts
Interpretation Act 1901 (Cwlth) applies as a law of
this jurisdiction to
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland). (2)
For the purposes
of subsection (1), the
Commonwealth Act
mentioned in that subsection applies as
if— (a) the statutory provisions in the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) were a Commonwealth Act;
and Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
19
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 3
The Australian Consumer Law [s 20]
(b) the regulations in
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) or
instruments under
that law
were regulations or
instruments under a Commonwealth Act. (3)
The Acts Interpretation Act
1954 of
Queensland does
not apply to— (a)
the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland); or (b)
any
instrument under that law. 20 Application of
Australian Consumer Law (1) The Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) applies to and in relation
to— (a) persons carrying on business within
this jurisdiction; or (b) bodies
corporate incorporated or
registered under
the law of this jurisdiction; or
(c) persons ordinarily resident in this
jurisdiction; or (d) persons otherwise connected with this
jurisdiction. (2) Subject to
subsection (1), the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) extends to conduct, and
other acts, matters and things, occurring
or existing outside
or partly outside
this jurisdiction
(whether within or outside Australia). Division 3
References to Australian Consumer
Law 21 References to
Australian Consumer Law (1) A
reference in
any instrument to
the Australian Consumer
Law
is a reference to the Australian Consumer Law of any or
all
of the participating jurisdictions. (2)
Subsection (1) has
effect except
so far as
the contrary intention
appears in
the instrument or
the context of
the reference otherwise requires.
Page
20 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3 The Australian Consumer Law
[s
22] 22 References to Australian Consumer Law
of other jurisdictions (1)
This
section has effect for the purposes of an Act, a law of this
jurisdiction or an instrument under an Act
or such a law. (2) If a
law of a
participating jurisdiction other
than this
jurisdiction provides that the Australian
Consumer Law text as in force
for the time
being applies
as a law
of that jurisdiction,
the Australian Consumer Law of that jurisdiction
is
the Australian Consumer Law text, applying as a law of that
jurisdiction. Division 4
Application of Australian Consumer
Law
to jurisdictions 23 Division does not apply to
Commonwealth In this division,
participating jurisdiction or
other jurisdiction does not include
the Commonwealth. 24 Application law of this
jurisdiction The application law
of this jurisdiction binds
(so far as
the legislative power of Parliament
permits) this jurisdiction and each other
jurisdiction, so far as the jurisdiction carries on a
business, either directly or by an authority
of the jurisdiction concerned. 25
Application law of other
jurisdictions (1) The application law
of each participating jurisdiction other
than this
jurisdiction binds
this jurisdiction, so
far as this
jurisdiction carries
on a business,
either directly
or by an
authority of this jurisdiction.
(2) If, because
of this part,
a provision of
the law of
another participating jurisdiction binds
this jurisdiction, this
jurisdiction is subject to that provision
despite any prerogative right or privilege.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
21
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3 The Australian Consumer Law
[s
26] Not authorised —indicative
only 26 Activities that
are not business (1) For the purposes of sections 24 and
25, the following do not amount to carrying on a
business— (a) imposing or collecting—
(i) taxes; or (ii)
levies; or (iii)
fees
for authorisations; (b) granting, refusing
to grant, revoking,
suspending or
varying authorisations (whether or not they
are subject to conditions); (c)
a
transaction involving— (i) only
persons who
are all acting
for the same
jurisdiction (and none of whom is an
authority of a State); or (ii)
only persons
who are all
acting for
the same authority of a
State; or (iii) only
a State and
1 or more
non-commercial authorities of
that State; or (iv) only
non-commercial authorities of the same State; (d)
the acquisition of
primary products
by a government body
under legislation, unless
the acquisition occurs
because— (i)
the
body chooses to acquire the products; or (ii)
the
body has not exercised a discretion that it has under
the legislation that
would allow
it not to
acquire the products. (2)
Subsection (1) does not limit the things
that do not amount to carrying on a business for the
purposes of sections 24 and 25. (3)
In
this section— acquisition of primary products by a
government body under legislation includes vesting
of ownership of primary products in a government
body by legislation. Page 22 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3 The Australian Consumer Law
[s
27] authorisation means
a licence, permit,
certificate or
other authorisation that
allows the
holder of
the authorisation to
supply goods or services.
government body means a State or
an authority of a State. primary products means—
(a) agricultural or horticultural produce;
or (b) crops, whether on or attached to the
land or not; or (c) animals (whether dead or alive);
or (d) the bodily
produce (including natural
increase) of
animals. (4)
For the purposes
of this section,
an authority of
a State is
non-commercial if—
(a) it is constituted by only one person;
and (b) it is
neither a
trading corporation nor
a financial corporation. 27
Jurisdictions not liable to penalty or
prosecution (1) Nothing in the application law of this
jurisdiction makes any jurisdiction liable to a pecuniary
penalty or to be prosecuted for an
offence. (2) Without limiting subsection (1),
nothing in the application law of a
participating jurisdiction makes this jurisdiction liable to
a
pecuniary penalty or to be prosecuted for an offence.
(3) The protection in subsection (1) or
(2) does not apply to an authority of any jurisdiction.
Division 5 Miscellaneous 28
Conferral of functions and powers on certain
bodies (1) The authorities and officers of the
Commonwealth referred to in the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) have
the Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
23
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 3
The Australian Consumer Law [s 29]
functions and powers conferred or expressed
to be conferred on them under the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). (2) In addition
to the powers
mentioned in
subsection (1), the
authorities and
officers referred
to in that
subsection have
power to do all things necessary or
convenient to be done in connection with the performance of the
functions and exercise of the powers referred to in that
subsection. 29 No doubling-up of liabilities
(1) If— (a)
an
act or omission is an offence against the Australian
Consumer Law
(Queensland) and
is also an
offence against
an application law
of another participating jurisdiction;
and (b) the offender has been punished for the
offence under the application law of the other
jurisdiction; the offender is not liable to be punished
for the offence against the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). (2) If a person has been ordered to pay a
pecuniary penalty under the application law
of another participating jurisdiction, the
person is
not liable to
a pecuniary penalty
under the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) in
respect of
the same conduct. Page 24
Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
30] Part 3A Provisions
supporting application of Australian
Consumer Law as a law of Queensland Division 1
Infringement notices 30
Purpose and effect of this division
(1) The purpose of this division is to
provide for the issue of an infringement
notice to a person for an alleged contravention of
an infringement notice
provision as
an alternative to
proceedings for an order under the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section 224.
(2) This division does not—
(a) require an infringement notice to be
issued to a person for an alleged contravention of an
infringement notice provision; or (b)
affect the liability of a person to
proceedings under the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter
4 or chapter 5, part
5-2 in relation to an alleged contravention of an
infringement notice provision if— (i)
an
infringement notice is not issued to the person for the alleged
contravention; or (ii) an infringement
notice issued to a person for the alleged
contravention is
withdrawn under
section 37; or (c)
prevent a court from imposing a higher
penalty than the penalty stated
in the infringement notice
if the person
does
not comply with the notice. Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 25
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 31]
31 Issuing infringement notice
(1) If the commissioner has reasonable
grounds to believe that a person has contravened an infringement
notice provision, the commissioner may issue an infringement
notice to the person. (2) Each of the
following is an infringement notice provision
— (a) any
of the following
provisions of
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland)— (i) a provision of chapter 2, part
2-2; (ii) a
provision of
chapter 3,
part 3-1
(other than
section 32(1), 35(1), 36(1), (2) or (3), 40
or 43); (iii) section
66(2); (iv) a provision of
chapter 3, part 3-2, division 2 (other than section
85); (v) a provision of chapter 3, part 3-2,
division 3 (other than section 96(2)); (vi)
section 100(1) or
(3), 101(3)
or (4), 102(2)
or 103(2); (vii) section
106(1), (2), (3)
or (5), 107(1)
or (2), 118(1), (2), (3)
or (5), 119(1) or (2), 125(4), 127(1) or (2), 128(2)
or (6), 131(1), 132(1), 136(1), (2) or (3) or 137(1) or
(2); (viii) section 221(1) or 222(1);
(b) an FTA consumer offence
provision. (3) The commissioner must not issue more
than 1 infringement notice to the person for the same alleged
contravention of the infringement notice provision.
(4) The infringement notice
does not
have any
effect if
the notice— (a)
is
issued more than 1 year after the day on which the
contravention of
the infringement notice
provision is
alleged to have occurred; or
Page
26 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
32] (b) relates to
more than
1 alleged contravention of
an infringement notice provision by the
person. 32 Matters to be included in infringement
notice An infringement notice must—
(a) be identified by a unique number;
and (b) state the day on which it is issued;
and (c) state the name and address of the
person to whom it is issued; and (d)
identify the commissioner; and
(e) state how the commissioner may be
contacted; and (f) give details of the alleged
contravention by the person, including— (i)
the
date of the alleged contravention; and (ii)
the particular infringement notice
provision that
was
allegedly contravened; and (g) state
the maximum pecuniary
penalty that
the court could
order the
person to
pay under the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
224 for the alleged
contravention; and (h) state the penalty that is payable in
relation to the alleged contravention; and (i)
state that the penalty is payable within the
infringement notice compliance period for the notice;
and (j) state that the penalty is payable to
the commissioner on behalf of the State; and (k)
explain how payment of the penalty is to be
made; and (l) explain the effect of sections 34, 35,
36 and 37. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
27
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 33]
33 Amount of penalty (1)
The
penalty to be stated in an infringement notice that is to be
issued to a person, in relation to an
alleged contravention of a provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), must be a
penalty equal to the amount worked out using the
following table— Amount of
penalty Item If the infringement notice is
for
an alleged contravention of one of the
following provisions of the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
... the amount is ... 1
a
provision of chapter 2, (a) if the person is
a listed part 2-2 corporation—600
penalty units; or (b)
if
the person is a body corporate other than a listed
corporation—60 penalty units;
or (c) if the person is
not a body corporate—12 penalty units.
2 a provision of chapter 3,
(a) if the person is a listed
part
3-1 (other than section 32(1), 35(1), 36(1),
corporation—600 penalty units; or
(2)
or (3), 40, 43 or 47(1)) (b) if the person is
a body corporate other than a listed
corporation—60 penalty units;
or (c) if the person is
not a body corporate—12 penalty units.
3 section 47(1) (a)
if
the person is a body corporate—10 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—2 penalty units.
Page
28 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
33] Amount of penalty Item
If
the infringement notice is for an alleged contravention of
one of the following provisions of the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
... the amount is ... 4
section 66(2) (a)
if
the person is a body corporate—55 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—11 penalty units.
5 a provision of chapter 3,
(a) if the person is a body
part
3-2, division 2 (other corporate—60 penalty units;
than or
section 85) (b)
if
the person is not a body corporate—12 penalty units.
6 a provision of chapter 3,
(a) if the person is a body
part
3-2, division 3 (other corporate—55 penalty units;
than
section 96(2)) or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—11 penalty units.
7 section 100(1) or (3)
(a) if the person is a body
or
101(3) or (4) corporate—20 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—4 penalty units.
8 section 102(2) or 103(2)
(a) if the person is a body
corporate—60 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—12 penalty units.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
29
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 33]
Amount of penalty Item
If
the infringement notice is for an alleged contravention of
one of the following provisions of the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
... the amount is ... 9
section 106(1), (2), (3) or
(a) if the person is a listed
(5),
107(1) or (2), 118(1), corporation—600 penalty
(2),
(3) or (5) or 119(1) or units; or (2)
(b) if the person is a body
corporate other than a listed
corporation—60 penalty units;
or (c) if the person is
not a body corporate—12 penalty units.
10 section 125(4) (a)
if
the person is a body corporate—30 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—6 penalty units.
11 section 127(1) or (2)
(a) if the person is a listed
corporation—600 penalty units; or
(b) if the person is a body
corporate other than a listed
corporation—60 penalty units;
or (c) if the person is
not a body corporate—12 penalty units.
12 section 128(2) or (6),
131(1) or 132(1) (a)
if
the person is a body corporate—30 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—6 penalty units.
Page
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[s
33] Amount of penalty Item
If
the infringement notice is for an alleged contravention of
one of the following provisions of the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
... the amount is ... 13
section 136(1), (2) or (3) or
(a) if the person is a listed
137(1) or (2) corporation—600
penalty units; or (b)
if
the person is a body corporate other than a listed
corporation—60 penalty units;
or (c) if the person is
not a body corporate—12 penalty units.
14 section 221(1) (a)
if
the person is a body corporate—30 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—6 penalty units.
15 section 222(1) (a)
if
the person is a body corporate—50 penalty units;
or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—10 penalty units.
(2) The penalty to be stated in an
infringement notice that is to be issued to a
person, in relation to an alleged contravention of an
FTA
consumer offence provision, must be— (a)
if
the person is a listed corporation—600 penalty units;
or (b) if
the person is
a body corporate
other than
a listed corporation—60
penalty units; or (c) if the person is not a body
corporate—12 penalty units. Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 31
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
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(3) For this section, the value of a
penalty unit is the same value it has for the time
being under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cwlth)
for a law of the Commonwealth.
34 Effect of compliance with infringement
notice (1) This section applies if—
(a) an infringement notice for an alleged
contravention of an infringement notice provision is issued
to a person; and (b) the
person pays
the penalty stated
in the infringement notice within
the infringement notice compliance period and as required
by the notice; and (c) the infringement notice
is not withdrawn
under section
37. (2) The person is not, merely because of
the payment, regarded as— (a)
having contravened the
infringement notice
provision; or
(b) having been convicted of an offence
constituted by the same conduct that constituted the alleged
contravention of the infringement notice provision.
(3) No proceedings (whether criminal or
civil) may be started or continued against the person, by or
for the State, in relation to— (a)
the alleged contravention of
the infringement notice
provision; or (b)
an offence constituted by
the same conduct
that constituted the
alleged contravention. 35 Effect of failure
to comply with infringement notice (1)
This
section applies if— Page 32 Current as at
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[s
36] (a) an infringement notice for an alleged
contravention of an infringement notice provision is issued
to a person; and (b) the
person fails
to pay the
penalty stated
in the infringement notice
within the
infringement notice
compliance period and as required by the
notice; and (c) the infringement notice
is not withdrawn
under section
37. (2) The person is liable—
(a) to be proceeded against under the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 5, part 5-2 in
relation to the alleged contravention of
the infringement notice
provision; or (b)
if
the contravention also constitutes the commission of
an
offence provided for in the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter
4—to be
proceeded against
for the commission of the offence;
or (c) if the contravention also constitutes
the commission of an offence against
an FTA consumer
offence provision—to be
proceeded against for the commission of the
offence. 36 Infringement notice compliance period
for infringement notice (1)
Subject to this section, the
infringement notice compliance
period for
an infringement notice
is the period
of 28 days
beginning on the day after the day on which
the infringement notice is issued by the commissioner.
(2) The commissioner may
extend, by
notice in
writing, the
infringement notice
compliance period
for the notice
if the commissioner is
satisfied that it is appropriate to do so. (3)
Only
1 extension may be given and the extension must not be
for
more than 28 days. Current as at [Not applicable]
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3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
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(4) Notice of the extension must be given
to the person who was issued the infringement notice.
(5) A failure
to comply with
subsection (4) does
not affect the
validity of the extension.
(6) If the
commissioner extends
the infringement notice
compliance period for an infringement
notice, a reference in this division to the infringement
notice compliance period for an
infringement notice
is taken to
be a reference
to the infringement
notice compliance period as so extended. 37
Withdrawal of infringement notice
(1) The person to whom an infringement
notice has been issued for an
alleged contravention of
an infringement notice
provision may
make written
representations to
the commissioner seeking
the withdrawal of
the infringement notice.
(2) Evidence or information that the
person, or a representative of the person,
gives to the commissioner in the course of making
representations under
subsection (1) is
not admissible in
evidence against
the person or
representative in
any proceedings (other than proceedings
for an offence based on the evidence or information given
being false or misleading). (3)
The commissioner may,
by written notice
(the withdrawal notice
)
given to the person to whom an infringement notice
was issued, withdraw
the infringement notice
if the commissioner is
satisfied that it is appropriate to do so. (4)
Subsection (3) applies
whether or
not the person
has made representations
seeking the withdrawal. (5) The withdrawal
notice must state— (a) the name and address of the person;
and (b) the day on which the infringement
notice was issued to the person; and (c)
that
the infringement notice is withdrawn; and Page 34
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[s
38] (d) that proceedings under
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter 4 or chapter 5,
part 5-2 may be started or continued against the person in
relation to— (i) the alleged
contravention of
the infringement notice
provision; or (ii) an
offence constituted by
the same conduct
that constituted the
alleged contravention. (6) To be effective,
the withdrawal notice must be given to the person within
the infringement notice compliance period for the infringement
notice. (7) If the infringement notice is
withdrawn after the person has paid
the penalty stated
in the infringement notice,
the commissioner must refund to the person
an amount equal to the amount paid. Division 2
Embargo notices 38
Definition for div 2 In this
division— services includes product
related services. 39 Embargo notices (1)
An
inspector who enters premises under section 89 may give
an embargo notice to the occupier
of the premises in relation to the supply of
goods or services from the premises. (2)
The inspector may
give the
embargo notice
to the occupier
only
if the inspector is satisfied on reasonable grounds—
(a) to the extent the embargo notice
relates to goods—that the goods have been supplied, or
offered to be supplied, from the premises in contravention of
this Act; and (b) to the extent the embargo notice
relates to services—that the services
have been
supplied, or
offered to
be supplied, from the premises in
contravention of this Act. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
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[s
39] Not authorised —indicative
only (3) The
inspector may
give the
notice to
the occupier of
the premises— (a)
by causing a
copy of
the notice to
be served on
the occupier; or (b)
if the occupier
cannot be
located after
all reasonable steps have been
taken to do so—by causing a copy of the notice to
be— (i) served on
a person on
the premises who
is reasonably believed to be in regular
contact with the occupier; or (ii)
affixed to
the premises, or
to a thing
on the premises, in a
prominent position. (4) The embargo notice must—
(a) be in writing; and (b)
state the goods and services to which the
notice relates; and (c) if the notice
relates to goods—state that the stated goods must not
be— (i) supplied in or from the premises;
or (ii) transferred,
moved, altered, destroyed or otherwise interfered
with; during the period stated in the notice;
and (d) if the
notice relates
to services—state that
the stated services must
not be supplied in or from the premises during the
period stated in the notice; and (e)
explain the effect of— (i)
for
goods—section 42; or (ii) for
services—section 43. (5) Despite anything
in any other law, a contract for the supply of goods or
services that is prohibited by an embargo notice is
void. (6)
If
goods are supplied in contravention of an embargo notice—
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Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
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[s
40] (a) the supplier
must immediately return
or refund to
the person who acquired the goods any
consideration (or the value of any consideration) that the
person gave— (i) under an agreement for the supply;
or (ii) under a related
contract or instrument; and (b)
if the goods
have been
removed from
the premises in
which they
were subject
to the embargo
notice—the person who
acquired the goods must— (i) return the goods
to the premises; or (ii) notify the
supplier of the place where the supplier may collect the
goods; and (c) if paragraph
(b)(ii) applies—the supplier
must collect
the goods from
the place notified
to the supplier,
and return them to the premises.
40 Embargo period for embargo
notice (1) Subject to
this section,
the embargo period
for an embargo
notice must not be longer than—
(a) if the
inspector giving
the notice secures
goods under
section 42 or
secures equipment
under section
43—24 hours; or (b)
otherwise—28 days. (2)
An
inspector may, before the embargo period ends, apply to a
Magistrates Court for an extension of the
period. (3) If an
inspector intends
to make an
application under
subsection (2), the
inspector must,
before making
the application, notify the occupier of
the premises to which the embargo notice relates of that
intention. (4) The occupier of the premises is
entitled to be heard in relation to the
application. (5) The court may extend the embargo
period for a stated period if the judge is satisfied that the
extension is necessary in all the
circumstances. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 41]
41 Multiple embargo notice for supply of
the same kind of goods or services from the same
premises If an inspector
has given an
embargo notice
(the earlier
embargo notice ), an inspector
must not give another embargo notice
(the later embargo notice ) if—
(a) the later
embargo notice
would relate
to goods or
services of the same kind, and to the same
premises, as the earlier embargo notice related to;
and (b) the embargo period for the earlier
embargo notice did not end at least 5 days ago.
42 Power of inspector to secure
goods If— (a) an embargo
notice relates to goods; and (b)
the inspector who
gives the
notice believes
on reasonable grounds
that it
is necessary to
secure the
goods in
order to
ensure that
the notice is
complied with;
the
inspector may, during the embargo period for the embargo
notice, do anything that the inspector
thinks is necessary to secure the
goods (whether
by locking them
up, placing a
guard or otherwise). 43
Power
of inspector to secure equipment used to supply services
If— (a) an embargo
notice relates to services; and (b)
the inspector who
gives the
notice believes
on reasonable grounds
that it
is necessary to
secure equipment used
to supply the services in order to ensure that the notice
is complied with; the inspector may, during the embargo period
for the embargo notice, do anything that the inspector
thinks is necessary to Page 38 Current as at
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Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
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[s
44] secure the
equipment (whether
by locking it
up, placing a
guard or otherwise). Not
authorised —indicative only
44 Approval relating to embargoed goods
or services (1) If an
embargo notice
relating to
goods has
been given,
the owner of the goods or another person
who has an interest in the goods may, in writing, ask the
commissioner for approval to do any of the following—
(a) supply the goods; (b)
transfer, move, alter, destroy or otherwise
interfere with the goods. (2)
If
an embargo notice relating to services has been given, the
following persons may, in writing, ask the
commissioner for approval to supply the services—
(a) the person
who would, but
for the embargo
notice, supply the
services; (b) another person whose interests would
be affected if the services were not supplied.
(3) If a request for an approval is made
under subsection (1) or (2), the requested approval may be
given, in writing, by the commissioner. 45
Compliance with embargo notice
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) the person
knows that
an embargo notice
has been given;
and (b) the person, contrary to the embargo
notice, does an act or omits to do an act. Maximum
penalty— (a) if the person is a body corporate—200
penalty units; or (b) if the person is not a body
corporate—40 penalty units. (2)
A
person commits an offence if— Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 39
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 45]
(a) the person
knows that
an embargo notice
has been given;
and (b) the person causes another person to do
an act or to omit to do an act; and (c)
doing the act, or omitting to do the act, is
contrary to the embargo notice. Maximum
penalty— (a) if the person is a body corporate—200
penalty units; or (b) if the person is not a body
corporate—40 penalty units. (3)
Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply in
relation to— (a) an act done under an approval given
under section 44; or (b) if the embargo
notice relates to goods—an act done to protect or
preserve the goods; or (c) if the embargo
notice relates to services—an act done to protect
or preserve equipment
used to
supply the
services. (4)
Subsection (5) applies if—
(a) a proceeding is
brought against
a person for
a contravention of subsection (1) or
(2); and (b) the person
seeks to
rely on
a matter (the
relevant matter
)
stated in subsection (3)(a), (b) or (c). (5)
The
person has an evidential burden in relation to the matter.
(6) For this section, the value of a
penalty unit is the same value it has for the time
being under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cwlth)
for a law of the Commonwealth.
Page
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Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
46] Division 3 Orders for the
preservation of property Not
authorised —indicative only
46 Court may make order for preserving
money or other property held by a person
(1) The District Court may, on the
application of the Minister or the
commissioner, make
an order or
orders mentioned
in subsection (3) if— (a)
proceedings of a kind mentioned in
subsection (2) have been taken
against a
person, or
proceedings of
a kind mentioned in
subsection (2)(d) may be taken against a person;
and (b) the court is satisfied that it is
necessary or desirable to make the
order or
orders to
preserve money
or other property held by
or for the person if the person is liable, or may become
liable, under the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland)— (i) to pay
money by
way of a
fine, damages,
compensation, refund or otherwise; or
(ii) to transfer,
sell or refund other property; and (c)
the
court is satisfied that the making of such an order or
orders will not unduly prejudice the rights
and interests of any other person. (2)
For
subsection (1)(a), the kinds of proceedings are—
(a) proceedings against the person for an
offence against a provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter
4 or against
an FTA offence
provision; or (b)
an application under
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section 232 for an
injunction against the person in relation to—
(i) a contravention of
a provision of
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 2, 3 or 4, or of a relevant
provision under section 65; or Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 41
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Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
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[s
46] Not authorised —indicative
only (ii) a term of a
consumer contract in relation to which a declaration
under the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland),
section 250 has been made; or (c)
an action under
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
236(1) against the
person in
relation to
a contravention of
a provision of
the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland),
chapter 2, part 2-1 or chapter
3, or of
a relevant provision
under section 66;
or (d) an application for
an order under
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), section 237(1) or 239(1) against a person
in relation to— (i) a contravention of
a provision of
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 2, 3 or 4, or of a relevant
provision under section 67; or (ii)
a
term of a consumer contract in relation to which
a
declaration under the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland),
section 250 has been made. (3) The court may
make the following orders under subsection (1) in relation to
money or other property held by or for a person (the
respondent )—
(a) an order
prohibiting, either
absolutely or
subject to
conditions, a person who is indebted to the
respondent, or to an
associate of
the respondent, from
making a
payment, in total or partial discharge of
the debt— (i) to the respondent; or
(ii) to another
person at the direction or request of the respondent; (b)
an order prohibiting, either
absolutely or
subject to
conditions, a
person who
is holding money
or other property for the
respondent, or for an associate of the respondent— (i)
from paying
all or any
of the money
to the respondent, or
to another person at the direction or request of the
respondent; or Page 42 Current as at
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Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
46] (ii) from
transferring the
other property
to the respondent, or
to another person at the direction or request
of the respondent, or
otherwise parting
with
possession of that property; (c)
an order prohibiting, either
absolutely or
subject to
conditions, the
taking or
sending by
any person of
money of
the respondent, or
of an associate
of the respondent, to
a place outside
the State in
which the
money is held; (d)
an order prohibiting, either
absolutely or
subject to
conditions, the taking, sending or transfer
by any person of other property of the respondent, or of
an associate of the respondent, to a place outside the State
in which that property is located; (e)
if
the respondent is an individual—an order appointing a
receiver or
trustee of
the property, or
of part of
the property, of
the respondent with
such powers
as are stated in the
order. (4) If the court makes such an order, the
order operates— (a) for the period stated in the order (of
not more than 30 days if
the application for
the order was
an ex parte
application); or (b)
if
proceedings in relation to which the order is made are
concluded before
the stated period
ends—until the
conclusion of the proceedings.
(5) This section— (a)
has
effect subject to the Bankruptcy Act 1966
(Cwlth); and
(b) does not affect any other powers of
the court. (6) In this section— associate
, of
the respondent, means a person who— (a)
holds money or other property for the
respondent; or Current as at [Not applicable]
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 47]
(b) if the
respondent is
a body corporate—is a
wholly-owned subsidiary (within
the meaning of
the Corporations Act) of the
respondent. 47 Compliance with orders made under this
division (1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) an order
made under
section 46 applies
to the person;
and (b) the
person contravenes, or
refuses or
fails to
comply with, the
order. Maximum penalty— (a)
if
the person is a body corporate—900 penalty units; or
(b) if the person is not a body
corporate—180 penalty units. (2)
For
this section, the value of a penalty unit is the same value
it has for the time being under the
Crimes Act 1914 (Cwlth)
for a law of the Commonwealth.
Division 4 Court
jurisdiction 48 Purpose and scope of division
(1) The purpose of this division is to
confer jurisdiction to deal with particular
matters arising under the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland). (2) This division does not apply in
relation to— (a) provisions of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) that provide for
offences; or (b) any FTA
consumer offence
provision to
the extent a
contravention or alleged contravention of
the provision is being dealt with as for a criminal
offence. Page 44 Current as at
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[s
49] 49 Jurisdiction extends to provisions
having wider application (1)
This
section applies if— (a) this division
confers jurisdiction on
an entity to
deal with matters
arising under a particular provision of the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland); and (b)
under part 3B, the particular provision has
an extended application. (2)
The conferral of
jurisdiction also
applies in
relation to
the provision’s extended
application. Example for subsection (2)—
Under part 3B of this Act, the application
of the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter
5, part 5-2,
division 2
(Injunctions) is
extended to particular provisions of this
Act, including, for example, the FTA consumer
offence provisions. Under this division, depending
on
circumstances, either the District Court or the Supreme Court
has jurisdiction for
injunctions under
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland). That jurisdiction
arrangement will therefore also apply for injunctions
relating to contraventions of the FTA consumer offence
provisions even
though those
provisions do
not form part
of the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland). 50 Proceedings
referred to court of competent jurisdiction (1)
A
proceeding for the purposes of a provision of the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) listed in the
table to this section must be heard in the tribunal or in a
court having jurisdiction for the proceeding, having regard
to— (a) for the tribunal, whether the subject
of the proceeding— (i) would be a minor civil dispute within
the meaning of the QCAT Act; or (ii)
would be a matter to which section 50A
applies; or (b) for a court—any civil jurisdictional
limit, including any monetary limit, applying to the
court. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
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[s
50] (2) Subsection (1) applies
whether or
not the listed
provision already
includes reference
to a court
of competent jurisdiction. Not
authorised —indicative
only Table Provision of
Australian Name of provision Consumer
Law (Queensland) Nature of
proceeding section 43(4) Assertion of
right to Action to recover payment
for payment made by a unauthorised
entries or person to another advertisements person
section 85(4) Obligations and
rights Recovery of of consumers
on compensation termination section
99(2) Effect of termination Recovery of
unpaid termination charge section
138(2) Liability for loss or Action to
recover damage suffered by an amount of loss
or injured individual damage
section 139(2) Liability for
loss or damage suffered by a person other
than an injured individual Action to
recover amount of loss or damage
section 140(2) Liability for
loss or damage suffered by a person if other
goods are destroyed or damaged
Action to recover amount of loss
or damage section
141(2) Liability for loss or Action to
recover damage suffered by a amount of loss
or person if land, damage
buildings or fixtures are
destroyed or damaged Page 46
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Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
50] Provision of Australian Name of
provision Consumer Law (Queensland) Nature of
proceeding section 236(1) Actions for
damages Action to recover amount of loss
or damage section 259(2),
(3) and Action against (4)
suppliers of goods s 259(2) -
Action to recover reasonable costs incurred
by consumer s 259(3) -
Action to recover compensation for reduction in
value of goods s 259(4) -
Action to recover damages because of
failure to comply with guarantee section
265(3) Termination of Action to
recover contracts for the supply refund
of
services that are connected with rejected goods
section 267(2), (3) and Action
against (4) suppliers of services
s
267(2) - Action to recover reasonable costs incurred
by consumer s 267(3) -
Action to recover compensation for reduction in
value of services s 267(4) -
Action to recover damages because of
failure to comply with guarantee Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 47
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only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 50A]
Provision of Australian Name of
provision Consumer Law (Queensland) Nature of
proceeding section 269(3) Termination
of Action to recover contracts for
the supply refund of
services section 271(1), (3) and Action for
damages Action to recover (5)
against manufacturers damages
from of goods manufacturer section
274(3) Indemnification of suppliers
by manufacturers Action
against manufacturer for legal or equitable
relief section 279(1) Action by
consumer to Action to recover recover amount
of loss amount of loss or or damage
damage 50A
Tribunal’s jurisdiction for particular
matters relating to motor vehicles (1)
A
person may apply, as provided under the QCAT Act, to the
tribunal for
an order mentioned
in subsection (2)
for an action—
(a) under a
provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) listed in the table to
this section; and (b) relating to a motor vehicle;
and (c) seeking an amount or value of other
relief of not more than $100,000. (2)
In a
proceeding under subsection (1), the tribunal may make
only
the following orders— (a) an
order requiring
a party to
the proceeding to
pay a stated amount to
a stated person; (b) an order that a stated amount is not
due or owing by the applicant to
a stated person,
or by any
party to
the proceeding to the applicant;
Page
48 Current as at [Not applicable]
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Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
50A] (c) an order requiring a party to the
proceeding, other than the applicant, to
perform work
to rectify a
defect in
goods or services to which the claim
relates; (d) an order requiring a party to the
proceeding to return goods that
relate to
the claim and
are in the
party’s possession or
control to a stated person; (e)
an order combining
2 or more
orders mentioned
in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and
(d). (3) However, the tribunal can not make an
order under subsection (2) that— (a)
purports to require payment of an amount,
performance of work or
return of
goods of
a value of
more than
$100,000; or (b)
purports to grant relief of a value of more
than $100,000 from the payment of an amount; or
(c) combines 2 or more orders mentioned in
subsection (2) and purports to
award or
declare entitlements or
benefits (or
both) of
a total value
of more than
$100,000. (4)
In
this section— motor vehicle see the Motor
Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014,
section 12. Table Provision of
Australian Name of provision Consumer
Law (Queensland) section
236(1) Actions for damages Nature of
proceeding Action to recover amount of loss
or damage Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 49
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only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 50A]
Provision of Australian Name of
provision Consumer Law (Queensland) Nature of
proceeding section 259(2), (3) and Action
against (4) suppliers of goods s 259(2) -
Action to recover reasonable costs incurred
by consumer s 259(3) -
Action to recover compensation for reduction in
value of goods s 259(4) -
Action to recover damages because of
failure to comply with guarantee section
265(3) Termination of Action to
recover contracts for the supply refund
of
services that are connected with rejected goods
section 267(2), (3) and Action
against (4) suppliers of services
s
267(2) - Action to recover reasonable costs incurred
by consumer s 267(3) -
Action to recover compensation for reduction in
value of services s 267(4) -
Action to recover damages because of
failure to comply with guarantee section
269(3) Termination of Action to
recover contracts for the supply refund
of
services Page 50 Current as at
[Not applicable]
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Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
50B] Provision of Australian Name of
provision Consumer Law (Queensland) Nature of
proceeding section 271(1), (3) and Action for
damages Action to recover (5)
against manufacturers damages
from of goods manufacturer section
274(3) Indemnification of suppliers
by manufacturers Action
against manufacturer for legal or equitable
relief section 279(1) Action by
consumer to Action to recover recover amount
of loss amount of loss or or damage
damage 50B
Expedited hearing An expedited
hearing under the QCAT Act, section 94, may be conducted for a
proceeding under section 50A if— (a)
the amount or
value of
other relief
sought in
the proceeding is not more than $25,000;
or (b) the president
of the tribunal
considers it
appropriate having regard
to— (i) the nature and complexity of the
proceeding; and (ii) the views of the
parties to the proceeding; and (iii)
anything else the president considers
relevant. 50C Costs The tribunal may
make an order under section 102(1) of the QCAT
Act against a
party to
a proceeding under
section 50A—
(a) only if
the party is
a respondent against
whom the
tribunal has made a final decision;
and Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
51
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 50D]
(b) only to
order the
party to
pay to the
applicant the
amount of any prescribed fee paid by the
applicant on filing the application for the
proceeding. 50D Constitution of tribunal
For
section 195(b) of the QCAT Act, an adjudicator may hear
and
decide a proceeding under section 50A if either or both of
the
following apply— (a) the amount
or value of
other relief
sought in
the proceeding is not more than
$25,000; (b) an expedited
hearing is
to be conducted
for the proceeding. 51
Proceedings referred to particular
court A proceeding for the purposes of a provision
of the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) listed in the
table to this section must be heard in the court as provided
for in the table to this section. Provision
of Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) section
218(3) Name of provision
Table Nature of
proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Regulator
may accept undertakings Application
for District Court order
under section 218(4) of ACL(Q)
for breach of undertaking Page 52
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Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
51] Provision of Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) chapter 5,
part 5-2, division 1 Name of
provision Pecuniary
penalties Nature of
proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Proceeding
for If the maximum the recovery of
a amount of the pecuniary
pecuniary penalty
penalty payable under section
224 of ACL(Q) in relation to
the contravention is equal to or
less than the civil jurisdictional monetary
limit applying under the
Magistrates Courts Act
1921 , a Magistrates Court has
jurisdiction. Otherwise,
the District Court has jurisdiction, regardless of
the maximum amount of
the pecuniary penalty
payable. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
53
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 51]
Provision of Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) section
232(2) Name of provision
Injunctions Nature of
proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Application
by If the injunction regulator or
other is sought in person for
grant conjunction with, of
injunction and in the course of,
another proceeding under this Act,
whether for an offence or otherwise,
before the District Court,
the District Court has jurisdiction. Otherwise,
the Supreme Court has
jurisdiction. Page 54 Current as at
[Not applicable]
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Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
51] Provision of Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) section
237(1) Name of provision
Nature of proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Compensation Application
by If the order is orders etc.
on injured person, or sought in
application by an by regulator
for conjunction with, injured person
or injured person, and in the
course the regulator for order
for of, another compensation
or proceeding under for prevention
or this Act, whether reduction of
loss for an offence or or damage
otherwise, the court hearing
the other proceeding has
jurisdiction for the proceeding
for the order. Otherwise,
the District Court has jurisdiction, regardless of
any civil jurisdictional limit,
including any monetary limit, applying
to the District Court.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
55
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 51]
Provision of Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) section
239(1) Name of provision
Nature of proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Orders to
redress Application by If the order
is etc. loss or regulator
for sought in damage
suffered order redressing conjunction
with, by non-party loss or damage
or and in the course consumers
for
preventing or of, another reducing loss
or proceeding under damage
this
Act, whether for an offence or otherwise,
the court hearing the other
proceeding has jurisdiction for the
proceeding for the
order. Otherwise, the District Court
has jurisdiction, regardless of
any civil jurisdictional limit,
including any monetary limit, applying
to the District Court.
Page
56 Current as at [Not applicable]
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Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
51] Provision of Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) section
246(1) Name of provision
Non-punitive orders
Nature of proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Application
by If the order is regulator
for sought in order
under conjunction with, section 246(2)
of and in the course ACL(Q)
of,
another proceeding under this Act,
whether for an offence or otherwise,
the court hearing the other
proceeding has jurisdiction for the
proceeding for the
order. Otherwise, a Magistrates Court has
jurisdiction, regardless of
any civil jurisdictional limit,
including any monetary limit, applying
to a Magistrates Court.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
57
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 51]
Provision of Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) section
247(1) Name of provision
Nature of proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Adverse
publicity orders Application
by If the order is regulator
for sought in adverse
publicity conjunction with, order
and
in the course of, another proceeding
under this Act, whether for an offence
or otherwise, the court hearing
the other proceeding has
jurisdiction for the proceeding
for the order. Otherwise,
a Magistrates Court has
jurisdiction, regardless of
any civil jurisdictional limit,
including any monetary limit, applying
to a Magistrates Court.
Page
58 Current as at [Not applicable]
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Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
52] Provision of Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) section
248(1) section 250(1) Name of
provision Order
disqualifying a person
from managing corporations Declarations relating
to consumer contracts
Nature of proceeding Court
having jurisdiction Application
by If the order is regulator
for sought in order
conjunction with, disqualifying
a and in the course person
from of, another managing
proceeding under corporations for
a this Act, whether period
for
an offence or otherwise, before the
District Court, the District Court
has jurisdiction. Otherwise,
the Supreme Court has
jurisdiction. Application by District
Court party to consumer
contract or by regulator
for declaration that a term of a
contract is an unfair term Division 5
Miscellaneous 52
Miscellaneous supporting provision for
proceedings for recovery of pecuniary penalties
(1) For a
relevant proceeding, if
a court is
to be satisfied
of a matter, the
court need only be satisfied of the matter on the
balance of probabilities.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
59
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 53]
(2) If, for a relevant proceeding—
(a) a court orders a corporation to pay a
pecuniary penalty; and (b) the corporation
does not have the resources to pay the pecuniary
penalty; the executive officers
of the corporation are
jointly and
severally liable to pay any amount not paid
by the corporation. (3) It is
a defence to
a liability under
subsection (2) for
an executive officer to prove
that— (a) if the officer was in a position to
influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the
act or omission the subject of the relevant proceeding—the
officer exercised reasonable diligence
to ensure the
corporation did
not do the act or make the omission;
or (b) the officer was not in a position to
influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the
act or omission the subject of the relevant proceeding.
(4) If 2
or more relevant
proceedings are
to be dealt
with concurrently
and, under division 4, the District Court would have
jurisdiction for
at least 1
but not all
of the relevant
proceedings, the District Court may exercise
jurisdiction for all the proceedings. (5)
In
this section— relevant proceeding means a
proceeding under the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 5, part 5-2, division 1, including under
that division’s extended application. 53
Interpretation of offence provisions
(1) To remove any doubt, it is declared
that— (a) chapter 2 of the Criminal
Code (Cwlth) does not apply to
offences against
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter 4; and
Page
60 Current as at [Not applicable]
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Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3A Provisions supporting application of
Australian Consumer Law as a law of Queensland
[s
53A] (b) accordingly, any
statement included
in the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 4 to the effect that a provision of
that law is an offence of strict liability is not relevant for
the purposes of that law. Note— The
Criminal Code
(of Queensland) applies
for the purposes
of offences included
in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter 4. For
example, the Criminal Code, section 23(2) applies to
make
immaterial the result intended to be caused by an act or
omission constituting an offence unless intention to
cause the result is expressly declared
to be an
element of
the offence. The
application of
the Criminal Code
is subject to
provisions of
this Act
(including the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)). For
example, the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 4,
part 4-6 includes defences that are
available for
prosecutions for
contraventions of
provisions of
chapter 4. (2)
Despite section
19, the Acts Interpretation Act
1954 sections 41,
41A, 43, 44(4), 45 and 46 apply in relation to offences
under the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) as if that law
were an Act to which the Acts Interpretation Act
1954 applied.
53A Interpretation of unsolicited consumer
agreement permitted hours provisions and termination
period provision (1)
In a permitted
hours provision, for
applying the
definition unsolicited consumer
agreement as
provided for
in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
69, subsection (1) of that section is taken not
to include paragraph (d). (2)
In
the termination period provision, for applying the
definition unsolicited consumer
agreement as
provided for
in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
69, subsection (1) of that section is taken not
to include paragraph (d), but only if the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland), section 73 was contravened in relation
to the agreement the subject of termination.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
61
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Part
3A Provisions supporting application of Australian Consumer Law as
a law of Queensland [s 54]
(3) If an
agreement is
terminated under
the termination period
provision because
of the operation
of subsection (2) of
this section,
the agreement is
taken to
be, for any
related provision, an
unsolicited consumer
agreement terminated in
accordance with the termination period
provision. (4) In this section— permitted hours
provision means—- (a)
the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section 73;
or (b) the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
170. related provision means a section
of the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) that
refers to
an unsolicited consumer
agreement terminated in
accordance with
section 82 of
that law.
termination period provision
means the Australian Consumer
Law
(Queensland), section 82. 54 Gazettal of
notice under Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
about interim ban, recall notice or safety warning
(1) This section applies if the Minister,
as a responsible Minister under the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), publishes a written
notice on
the internet under
any of the
following provisions of
the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)— (a)
section 109, 111 or 113; (b)
section 122; (c)
section 129 or 130. (2)
The
Minister must, as soon as practicable after the publication
of the written
notice, publish
a gazette notice
containing a
copy
of the written notice. (3) A
failure to
comply with
subsection (2) does
not affect the
validity of the written notice.
Page
62 Current as at [Not applicable]
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Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3B Provisions utilising Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) provisions [s 55]
55 Limitation on right to itemised
bill (1) This section applies if—
(a) apart from this section, under the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section 101, a person is
entitled, as a consumer, to
request the
supplier of
legal services
to give the consumer an itemised bill,
complying with that section, relating to the legal services;
and (b) under the
Legal Profession Act
2007 ,
section 332, the
person is entitled to request a law practice
to give the person an itemised bill relating to the
legal services. (2) The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
101 ceases to have application to the legal
services. Part 3B Provisions
utilising Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
provisions 56
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) not
limited (1) This section applies if a provision of
this part (the application provision
) applies a
provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) (the
applied provision
), whether for
the purposes of
an FTA offence
provision or
for some other
purpose (the extended
application ). (2) The application
provision does not limit or otherwise affect the
operation of
the applied provision
as a provision
of the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland). 57 Defences
(1) The defences provided for in the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 4, part 4-6 also
apply for the purposes of each FTA offence provision as if
the FTA offence provision were a
provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter 4.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
63
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only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3B Provisions utilising Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
provisions [s 58] (2)
For subsection (1), the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section 211 may also be
read as if the reference to section 195 of that law were a
reference to section 84(1). (3)
Subsection (1) applies in relation to an FTA
consumer offence provision only
to the extent
a contravention or
alleged contravention of
the provision is
being dealt
with as
for a criminal
offence. 58 Prosecutions to be commenced within 3
years The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
212 applies to an offence against an FTA offence
provision as if the offence were
an offence against
a provision of
the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland),
chapter 4. 59 Preference must be given to
compensation for victims (1) The
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
213 applies in relation to a relevant provision
as if the reference in section 213(a)(i) of
that law
to a provision
of that law
included a reference to the relevant
provision. (2) In this section— relevant
provision means an FTA offence provision other
than section 92(1)(b), (c), (d) or (e) or
92B. 60 Penalties for contraventions of the
same nature for FTA offence provisions (1)
The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
214 applies to 2 or more offences
constituted by, or relating to,
contraventions of the same FTA offence
provision as if the offences were constituted by, or related to,
contraventions of the same provision
of the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter 4.
(2) The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
215 applies to
an offence constituted by,
or relating to,
a contravention of an FTA offence
provision as if the offence Page 64
Current as at [Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3B Provisions utilising Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) provisions [s 61]
were constituted by,
or related to,
a contravention of
a provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter
4. Not authorised —indicative only
61 General provision about injunctions
and other remedies (1) The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
216 applies to
an FTA offence
provision as
if the reference
in section 216 to
a provision of
the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter
4 included a
reference to
the FTA offence
provision. (2) The Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), section 216, to the
extent the
provision relates
to the granting
of an injunction,
applies to a code of practice as if the reference in
section 216 to
a provision of
the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 4 included a
reference to the code of practice. 62
Undertakings for matters arising other than
under Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
(1) The Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 5, part 5-1, division 1
applies to a relevant matter as if the reference
to a matter
in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section 218(1)
included a reference to the relevant matter. (2)
In
this section— relevant matter
means any
matter in
relation to
which the
commissioner has a power or function under
this Act, other than under
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), including any
contravention of an FTA offence provision. 63
Public warning notices (1)
The
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 5, part
5-1, division
3 applies to
a relevant provision
as if the
reference in
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
223(1)(a) to a contravention of a provision of chapter
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
65
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only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3B Provisions utilising Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
provisions [s 64] 2, 3 or 4
included a reference to a contravention of the relevant
provision. (2)
In
this section— relevant provision means—
(a) an FTA consumer offence provision;
or (b) section 45 or 47; or
(c) a code of practice.
64 Pecuniary penalties for FTA consumer
offence provisions (1) The Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 5, part 5-2, division 1
applies to an FTA consumer offence provision as
if the provisions of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) listed
in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
224(1)(a) included each
of the FTA
consumer offence provisions.
(2) For the
application of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) as provided for in
subsection (1)— (a) the reference
in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
224(2)(c) to proceedings under
the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 4 may
be taken to
include a
reference to
proceedings under this Act
for a criminal offence; and (b)
the FTA consumer
offence provision
that is
section 84(1) is taken to be included in the
table to the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland),
section 224(3) in the same grouping as section 107(1) of
that law; and (c) the FTA consumer offence provision
that is section 86 is taken to
be included in
the table to
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
224(3) in the same grouping as
section 119(1) of that law. Page 66
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Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3B Provisions utilising Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) provisions [s 65]
65 Injunctions (1)
The
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 5, part
5-2, division
2 applies to
a relevant provision
as if the
reference in
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
232(1)(a) to a contravention of a provision of chapter
2, 3
or 4 of that law included a reference to a contravention of
the
relevant provision. (2) In this section— relevant
provision means— (a)
an FTA offence
provision other
than section
92(1)(b), (c), (d) or (e) or 92B; or
(b) a code of practice.
66 Actions for damages
(1) The Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 5, part 5-2,
division 3
applies to
a contravention of
a relevant provision as if
the reference in the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section
236(1)(b) to contravention of
a provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter
2 or 3
included a
reference to
contravention of
the relevant provision.
(2) In this section— relevant
provision means— (a)
an
FTA consumer offence provision; or (b)
section 45 or 47; or (c)
a
code of practice. 67 Orders for compensation or
redress (1) The Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 5, part 5-2, division 4
applies to a relevant provision— (a)
as if the
references in
sections 237(1)(a)(i) and
238(1)(a) of that law to a provision of
chapter 2, 3 or 4 Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
67
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only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
3B Provisions utilising Australian Consumer Law (Queensland)
provisions [s 68] of
that law
included a
reference to
the relevant provision;
and (b) as if the reference in section
239(1)(a)(i) of that law to a provision of
chapter 2, chapter 3, part 3-1 or part 3-2, division
2, 3 or
4 or chapter
4 of that
law included a
reference to the relevant provision.
(2) In this section— relevant
provision means an FTA offence provision other
than section 92(1)(b), (c), (d) or (e) or
92B. 68 Non-punitive orders
The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
246 applies to an FTA offence provision as if
the reference in the section to a provision of chapter 2, 3
or 4 of that law included a reference to the FTA offence
provision. 69 Adverse publicity orders
The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
247 applies to
an FTA offence
provision as
if the reference
in section 247(1)(b) of that law to a
person who has committed an offence against chapter 4 of that
law included a reference to a
person who
has committed an
offence against
the FTA offence
provision. 70 Orders disqualifying a person from
managing a corporation (1)
The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
248 applies in relation to a relevant provision
as if the provisions of the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland) mentioned in section 248(1)(a) of that law included
the relevant provision. (2) In this
section— relevant provision means—
(a) an FTA consumer offence provision;
or Page 68 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 3B Provisions utilising Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland) provisions [s 71]
(b) section 45 or 47. Not
authorised —indicative only
71 Privilege against exposure to penalty
or forfeiture— disqualification from managing a
corporation (1) The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
249 applies to
a civil or
criminal proceeding in
relation to
a relevant provision as if the
proceeding were a civil or criminal proceeding
mentioned in section 249(1) of that law. (2)
In
this section— relevant provision means—
(a) an FTA consumer offence provision;
or (b) section 45 or 47. 72
Publication of advertisement in the ordinary
course of business (1)
The Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
251 applies in relation to a relevant provision
as if the reference in section 251(1) of that law to a
contravention of chapter 3 of that law
included a reference to a contravention of the relevant
provision. (2)
In
this section— relevant provision means—
(a) an FTA consumer offence provision;
or (b) section 45 or 47. 73
Supplying services for the purpose of
resupply (1) Without limiting the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland), section 253, section
253(2) of that law
also applies
to a proceeding under
chapter 5, part 5-2 of that law in relation to a contravention
of section 84(1) committed by the supplying of services
(the relevant services ) that did not
comply with a safety standard for the services prescribed
under section 83. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
69
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 4
Safety and codes of practice [s 83]
(2) For applying subsection (1), the
references in the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
253(2) and (3) to
product related services may be taken to be
references to the relevant services. Part 4
Safety and codes of practice
Division 2 Safety
provisions 83 Safety standards (1)
A
regulation may prescribe a safety standard for a specified
kind
of services. (3) A prescribed safety standard for
services shall consist of such requirements as
to— (a) the manner in which services are to be
supplied; and (b) the form
and manner of
disclosure of
warnings, instructions or
other information to be communicated to a person to whom
services are to be supplied; as are
reasonably necessary to prevent or reduce risk of injury,
including physical,
mental or
psychological injury,
to any person.
(4) A regulation under this section may be
made to apply subject to— (a)
the
means of supply or the class of contract, agreement
or
act that constitutes the supply; or (b)
the
persons to whom services are supplied or by whom
they
are likely to be used; or (c) the purpose for
which services are acquired; or (d)
any exemption or
circumstance defined
in the regulation. Page 70
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Trading Act 1989 Part 4 Safety and codes of practice
[s
84] 84 Compliance with safety standard
(1) A person shall not, in trade or
commerce, supply or offer for supply
services in
relation to
which there
is a prescribed safety standard
unless that safety standard is complied with. Maximum
penalty— (a) if the person is a body
corporate—$1100000; or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—$220000. Note—
A pecuniary penalty
may be imposed
for a contravention of
this section—see
section 64 (Pecuniary penalties for FTA consumer offence
provisions). (2)
If— (a) a
person supplies
services in
contravention of
subsection (1); and (b)
another person
suffers loss
or damage because
of a defect in, or a
dangerous characteristic of, the services, or by not having
particular information in relation to the services, but
would not have suffered it if the prescribed safety standard
had been complied with; the person who suffers the loss or
damage shall be taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have
suffered it by the supplying of the
services. Division 3 Ministerial
prohibition 84A Definition for div 3
In
this division— regulating instrument means—
(a) an order
made under
section 85 (including an
interim order mentioned
in section 85A); or (b) a regulation— (i)
prohibiting the supply of services;
or Current as at [Not applicable]
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Trading Act 1989 Part 4 Safety and codes of practice
[s
85] (ii) authorising the
supply of
services subject
to conditions or
restrictions prescribed in
the regulation. Not
authorised —indicative
only 85 Minister may make
orders prohibiting or restricting supply of
dangerous or undesirable services (1)
The
Minister, if in the Minister’s opinion any services of any
kind
are likely to cause the death of any person or to injure or
adversely affect the health or wellbeing of
any person whether physical, mental or psychological, may by
order— (a) prohibit the supply of those services;
or (b) authorise supply of those services
subject to conditions or restrictions prescribed in the
order. (2) An order made under subsection (1) is
subordinate legislation. (3) The Minister
shall, before the Minister makes an order under subsection (1),
cause to be given to every person that in the Minister’s
opinion has a substantial interest in the matter, a
written notice
accompanied by
a copy of
the order the
Minister intends to make calling on that
person to show cause in writing why the Minister should not
make that order. (4) A person called upon to show cause by
the Minister, if the person wishes to show cause, shall
make written submissions to the Minister so that these
submissions are received by the Minister within
7 days of receipt by that person of the notice and copy of the
order from the Minister. (4A) The
Minister shall
consider any
such submissions before
making the order under subsection
(1). (5) An order made under this section after
the commencement of this subsection expires 18 months after the
order commences, and may not be renewed. 85A
Interim orders (1)
The
Minister may make an interim order under section 85(1).
(2) Section 85(2) to (4A) does not apply
to an interim order. Page 72 Current as at
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Trading Act 1989 Part 4 Safety and codes of practice
[s
86] (3) To give effect to an interim order,
the Minister must publish the interim order in the
gazette. (4) An interim order is in force during
the period (the ban period )
that— (a)
starts on the day (the start day
)
that is the day stated in the interim
order, or
the day the
interim order
is gazetted, whichever is the later;
and (b) ends at the end of 60 days after the
start day. (5) Before the ban period for the interim
order ends, the Minister may, by gazette notice, extend the ban
period for the interim order by a period of up to 30
days. (7) An interim order may be extended only
once. (8) The Statutory
Instruments Act 1992 , sections 49 to 51 apply to
an interim order
published in
the gazette as
if it were
subordinate legislation. Editor’s
note— This means that the interim order must be
tabled in the Legislative Assembly and may be disallowed.
86 Offence A person must
not supply or offer for supply services— (a)
if the supply
of the services
is prohibited under
a regulating instrument; or
(b) if the
supply of
the services is,
under a
regulating instrument, authorised subject
to conditions or
restrictions prescribed in
the regulating instrument— other than
subject to the conditions or restrictions. Maximum
penalty— (a) if the person is a body
corporate—$1100000; or (b) if the person is
not a body corporate—$220000. Current as at
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Trading Act 1989 Part 4 Safety and codes of practice
[s
87] Note— A
pecuniary penalty
may be imposed
for a contravention of
this section—see
section 64 (Pecuniary penalties for FTA consumer offence
provisions). Not
authorised —indicative
only 87 Seizure etc. of
goods in certain cases (1) An inspector may
at any time seize and detain goods that the inspector
suspects on
reasonable grounds
are intended for
supply or have been supplied—
(a) in contravention of
a relevant pecuniary
penalty provision;
or (b) in circumstances that
constitute the
commission of
an offence against section 45.
(2) Where a person is charged with an
offence against a relevant offence provision, the
court before
which the
complaint is
heard, if it is satisfied that any goods
that are the subject of the charge
are goods in
respect of
which a
relevant regulating instrument is
in force, may,
whether or
not that person
is convicted of
the offence charged,
order the
goods to
be forfeited to the Crown.
(3) A person
claiming to
be entitled to
goods that
have been
seized and detained under subsection (1)
may, within 28 days after the date of the seizure of the goods,
apply to a magistrate for an order for the delivery to the
person of those goods. (3A) Notice of the
application shall be served by the applicant on the commissioner
before the hearing of the application. (3B)
The
commissioner shall be entitled to appear at the hearing of
the
application as respondent and may be represented at the
hearing either by an inspector appointed by
the commissioner or by counsel or solicitor.
(4) In a proceeding upon an application
under subsection (3)— (a) if
the magistrate is
satisfied that
any of the
goods in
question are
goods in
respect of
which the
relevant regulating instrument is
in force, the
magistrate may
order them to be forfeited to the Crown;
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Trading Act 1989 Part 4 Safety and codes of practice
[s
87] (b) if the magistrate is not so satisfied,
the magistrate may order them to be delivered to any person
that appears to the magistrate to be entitled to
them. (5) Upon the
expiration of
28 days after
the date of
seizure of
goods under subsection (1), if no
application for the delivery of
the goods has
been properly
made, the
goods shall
be forfeited to the Crown.
(6) Where an
application for
delivery of
those goods
has been made under
subsection (3), but has been withdrawn before it
is
heard, then, upon— (a) the withdrawal of the application;
or (b) the expiration of 28 days after the
date of seizure of the goods; whichever
is the later,
the goods shall
be forfeited to
the Crown. (7)
Goods forfeited
to the Crown
under this
section may
be disposed of in such way as the
Minister directs. (8) In this section— relevant offence
provision means— (a)
section 45; or (b)
section 86; or (c)
any of the
following provisions of
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland)— (i) section 194; (ii)
section 195; (iii)
section 197; (iv)
section 198; (v)
section 199. relevant
pecuniary penalty provision means—
(a) section 86; or Current as at
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Part 5
Enforcement and remedies [s 88A] (b)
any of the
following provisions of
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland)— (i) section 106(1); (ii)
section 107(1); (iii)
section 118(1); (iv)
section 119(1); (v)
section 127(2). relevant
regulating instrument means a regulating instrument
that
is directly relevant to the offence with which the person is
charged. Division 4
Codes of practice 88A
Codes
of practice (1) A regulation may
prescribe a
code of
practice for
fair dealing—
(a) between a particular type of supplier
and consumer; or (b) by a particular type of person in
relation to consumers. (2) In this
section— consumer includes
prospective consumer. Part 5 Enforcement and
remedies Division 1 Powers of
commissioner and inspectors 88B
Definitions for div 1 In this
division— services includes product
related services. Page 76 Current as at
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[s
89] Not authorised —indicative only
89 Powers of inspectors
(1) For the purpose of the discharge by
the commissioner of any of the
commissioner’s functions
under this
Act, or
for any other purposes
of this Act, an inspector may at all reasonable times—
(a) enter any
premises the
inspector knows
or reasonably suspects—
(i) are being
used for
the production, manufacture, assembly,
preparation, storage or supply of goods or the supply of
services; or (ii) have been or are
being or are likely to be used by any person in
connection with a contravention of this Act;
and (b) enter any
premises where
the inspector knows
or reasonably suspects that records are
kept relating to the supply of
goods or
services or
relating to
a contravention of this Act; and
(c) enter any
premises that
the inspector knows
or reasonably suspects
to be used
by any person
for printing or as an office in connection
with the trade or commerce of
printing any
newspaper or
other publication, which
the inspector knows
or reasonably suspects to be
associated with any contravention of this Act; and
(d) enter any commercial broadcasting or
television station, which the inspector knows or reasonably
suspects to be associated with any contravention of this
Act; and (e) in any premises entered by the
inspector— (i) search for,
examine, take
possession of
or make copies of or
extracts from records relating to goods or services
supplied or to be supplied or relating to any
matter the
subject of
an investigation under
this
Act; and (ii) search
for and examine
goods found
on the premises;
and Current as at [Not applicable]
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[s
89] Not authorised —indicative
only (iii) exercise any
power under this Act to seize goods without payment
or take any goods found on the premises, on
payment or tendering of a reasonable price for them;
and (iv) seize
without payment
any brochures, leaflets,
books, writings, documents or other
materials that the inspector knows
or reasonably suspects
have been,
are being, or
are likely to
be used to
advertise, promote
or make representations with
respect to any matter in contravention of
this Act; and (v) open any room,
place or container or package that the
inspector knows
or reasonably suspects
to contain goods; and (vi)
question with respect to matters under this
Act any person the inspector finds on the premises;
and (f) make such
inquiry and
examination as
the inspector believes
to be necessary
or desirable to
assist the
discharge or
exercise of
any function or
power under
this
Act or to ascertain whether any contravention of this
Act
has been, is being, or is likely to be committed.
(1A) Subsection
(1) does not
authorise forcible
entry by
an inspector to any premises other than
under the authority of a warrant obtained by the inspector
under subsection (3). (2) Before an
inspector enters any part of premises which part is
used
as a dwelling the inspector shall, unless the inspector has
the
permission of the occupier of that part to the inspector’s
entry, obtain from a justice a warrant to
enter. (3) A justice who is satisfied upon the
complaint of an inspector that there
is reasonable cause
to suspect that
any place has
been
or is being or is likely to be used in connection with a
contravention of this Act or for the keeping
of records relating to a contravention of this Act may issue the
justice’s warrant directed to
the inspector to
enter the
place specified
in the warrant
for the purpose
of the inspector
exercising in
the premises the powers conferred on an
inspector by this Act. Page 78 Current as at
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90] (4) A warrant issued under this section
shall be, for a period of 1 month from its
issue, sufficient authority— (a)
to
the inspector to whom it is directed and to all persons
acting in aid of the inspector to enter the
place specified in the warrant; and (b)
to
the inspector to whom it is directed and to all persons
acting in aid of the inspector to exercise
in respect of the place specified in the warrant all the
powers conferred on an inspector by this Act.
(5) For the
purpose of
gaining entry
to any place,
an inspector may call to the
inspector’s aid such persons as the inspector considers
necessary and such persons, while acting in aid of
an inspector in
the lawful exercise
by the inspector
of the inspector’s
power of entry, shall have a like power of entry.
(6) Where an inspector has taken
possession of records or of other property for the
purposes of this Act the inspector may— (a)
in
the case of any records—retain the same for so long
as is necessary
for those purposes,
but the person
otherwise entitled
to possession of
the records, if
the person so requests it is entitled to
be furnished as soon as practicable with a copy of the
records certified by the commissioner to be a true copy and
such a certified copy shall be received in all courts and
elsewhere as evidence of the
matters contained
in the copy
as if it
were the
original; and (b)
in the case
of other property—subject to
the express provisions of
this Act, retain the property for so long as is necessary for
those purposes, and afterwards dispose of it as the
commissioner directs. 90 Power to obtain
information (1) In relation
to any matter
relevant to
the operation or
enforcement of
this Act,
an inspector may
require a
person (either by oral
or written requisition) to furnish— (a)
any
information; and Current as at [Not applicable]
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Part 5
Enforcement and remedies [s 90] (b)
any
records or a copy of them; in the person’s possession.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), a
person shall be taken to be in possession
of— (a) information, if
the person has
the information or
is entitled to access to the information;
and (b) records, if
the person has
them in
the person’s possession or if
the person has them under control in any place, whether
for the person’s own use or benefit or for another’s use or
benefit and although another person has the actual
possession or custody of the records. (3)
A
requisition made under subsection (1) may require that the
information or records or copy of them be
furnished— (a) to the inspector or another inspector
or to a stated officer of the department; or
(b) at the place the requisition is made
or at another place; or (c)
immediately or at, by or within a time
specified; or (d) in person,
or by certified
mail or
in another way
specified; or (e)
by
means of, or accompanied by, verification in the form
of,
a statutory declaration; or (f)
in
the case of information, orally or in writing. (4)
A
person must not, without reasonable excuse— (a)
refuse or
fail to
furnish any
information, records
or a copy
of them as
required of
the person under
this section;
or (b) in response
to a requisition made
under this
section furnish
information, records or copies that is or are false
or
misleading in a material particular. Maximum
penalty—100 penalty units. Page 80 Current as at
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Trading Act 1989 Part 5 Enforcement and remedies
[s
91] (5) It is not a reasonable excuse for a
person to refuse or fail to furnish
information, a
record or
copy of
a record on
the ground that
the information, record
or copy might
tend to
incriminate the person. (6)
However, information mentioned
in subsection (5) is
not admissible in evidence against the
person— (a) for an individual—in any criminal
proceedings; or (b) for a
body corporate—in any
criminal proceedings, other than
proceedings under this Act. (6A)
Subsection (6) does not apply to information
as to the name and address of the person or as to the
person’s ownership of, control over or position in, any
business. (7) Where a person records or stores any
matter by means of a mechanical, electronic or other
device, the duty imposed by this section to
produce any records containing those matters shall be
construed as including a duty to produce the matters
in
written form if that is demanded. (7A)
The
duty imposed by this section to produce a copy of any
records shall
be construed as
a duty to
produce a
clear reproduction. (8)
An
inspector or an officer of the department may take notes or
copies of or extracts from records or a copy
of them produced under this section. (9)
Records furnished under this section may be
retained for so long as it is necessary to do so for the
purposes of this Act, but the person
otherwise entitled
to possession of
them, if
the person so
requests it,
is entitled to
be furnished as
soon as
practicable with a copy of them certified by
the commissioner to be a true copy and such a certified copy
shall be received in all courts and elsewhere as evidence
of the matters contained in it as if it were the
original. 91 Obstruction (1)
A person shall
not obstruct an
inspector in
the exercise of
powers under this Act. Current as at
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Part 5
Enforcement and remedies [s 91A] Maximum
penalty—100 penalty units. (2) For the purposes
of this Act a person shall be taken to obstruct an inspector in
the exercise of powers under this Act if the person—
(a) assaults, abuses,
intimidates or
insults an
inspector or
any
other person assisting an inspector in the exercise of
powers under this Act; or
(b) directly or
indirectly deliberately prevents
any person from
being questioned by
an inspector or
from furnishing under
this Act any information or records or copies or
attempts to do so; or (c) in
any other way
obstructs or
attempts to
obstruct an
inspector in the exercise of powers under
this Act. Division 1A General power of
inspectors to seize goods Subdivision
1 Seizing and returning goods
91A General power to seize goods
(1) This division applies if an inspector
reasonably believes goods have been supplied in contravention of
this Act, other than a relevant offence provision under
section 87. (2) The inspector may seize enough of the
goods— (a) to decide whether the contravention
has happened; or (b) to be used as evidence in a proceeding
under this Act about the contravention. Example of
operation of paragraph (a)— An
inspector may
seize a
quantity of
fabric to
test its
fibre content and to
work out whether its labelling complies with the
prescribed information standard about fibre
content. Page 82 Current as at
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Trading Act 1989 Part 5 Enforcement and remedies
[s
91B] (3) If the goods are in a container and it
is not practicable to seize them
without the
container, the
inspector may
seize the
container and its contents.
91B Returning the seized goods
(1) The commissioner must return the
seized goods to their owner at the end
of— (a) 9 months; or (b)
if a
prosecution for an offence, or a relevant pecuniary
penalty proceeding, involving the seized
goods is started within the 9 months—the prosecution for the
offence, or the relevant pecuniary
penalty proceeding, and
any appeal from
the prosecution or
relevant pecuniary
penalty proceeding. (2)
Despite subsection
(1), the commissioner must
return the
seized goods to their owner immediately if
the commissioner is not satisfied
or stops being
satisfied the
retention of
the goods as evidence is necessary.
(3) In this section— relevant
pecuniary penalty
proceeding means
a proceeding under the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 5,
part
5-2, division 1 in relation to an act or omission to which
section 224 of that law applies.
Subdivision 2 Appealing
against seizure of the goods 91C
Where
and how to start appeal (1) A person whose
goods have been seized under this division may appeal to
the Magistrates Court nearest where the goods were
seized. (2) The appeal is started by—
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Part 5
Enforcement and remedies [s 91D] (a)
filing a
written notice
of appeal with
the clerk of
the court of the Magistrates Court;
and (b) giving a copy of the notice to the
commissioner. (3) Without limiting subsection (2)(b),
the commissioner is given a copy of the notice if a copy is
given to the inspector who seized the goods. (4)
The
notice of appeal must state the grounds of the appeal.
91D Hearing procedures (1)
The
power to make rules of court under the Supreme Court
of Queensland Act 1991 includes power
to make rules of court for appeals to Magistrates Courts
under this Act. (2) The procedure for an appeal to a
Magistrates Court under this Act is to
be— (a) in accordance with the
Uniform Civil Procedure Rules
1999 ; or
(b) in the
absence of
relevant rules,
as directed by
a magistrate. (3)
In
deciding the appeal, the Magistrates Court— (a)
is
not bound by the rules of evidence; and (b)
must
observe natural justice; and (c)
may
hear the appeal in court or chambers. 91E
Powers of Magistrates Court on appeal
In
deciding the appeal, the Magistrates Court may— (a)
confirm the seizure of the goods; or
(b) set aside the seizure and order the
return of the goods. Page 84 Current as at
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[s
91F] 91F Appeal to District Court on questions
of law only A party dissatisfied by the decision of the
Magistrates Court may appeal to the District Court, but only
on a question of law. Subdivision
3 Forfeiting the goods 91G
Court
hearing offence proceeding may order forfeiture of
seized goods (1)
If,
in proceedings for an offence for which goods were seized,
the court finds
the offence proved
and that the
offence concerned goods
seized and retained by an inspector, the court may order that
the goods be forfeited to the Crown. (2)
The forfeited goods
may be disposed
of in any
way the Minister
directs. Division 1B Register of
undertakings 91L Register of undertakings
(1) The commissioner is to keep a register
of each undertaking given to the commissioner by a person under
the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 5, part
5-1, division 1, including under that division’s extended
application. (2) The register is to contain a copy of
the undertaking. (3) A person
may, on
payment of
the fee prescribed under
a regulation— (a)
inspect the register at the commissioner’s
office when the office is open to the public; and
(b) obtain a copy of an undertaking in the
register. (4) The commissioner may publish the
information contained in the register on the department’s
website. Current as at [Not applicable]
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Part 5
Enforcement and remedies [s 92] Division 2
Offences, court enforcement and
remedies 92
Offences (1)
A
person who— (a) contravenes; or (b)
aids, abets, counsels or procures a person
to contravene; or (c) induces
a person whether
by threats or
promises or
otherwise to contravene; or
(d) is in
any way, directly
or indirectly, knowingly
concerned in, or party to, the contravention
by a person of; or (e)
conspires with others to contravene;
a provision of
this Act
for which a
penalty is
provided, commits an
offence against this Act. Note— A provision of
this Act for which a penalty is provided would include
any
provision of the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter
4 that provides for an offence.
(2) Each of the persons mentioned in
subsection (1)(a) to (d) is taken to have
committed the offence that is the contravention of the provision
and may be charged with actually committing the
offence. (3) A person who counsels, procures, or
induces another person to contravene the provision may be
charged with committing the offence
or with counselling, procuring
or inducing the
commission of the offence.
(4) A conviction of
counselling, procuring
or inducing the
commission of
the offence, or
conspiring to
commit the
offence, has
the same consequences in
all respects as
a conviction of committing the
offence. Page 86 Current as at
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Trading Act 1989 Part 5 Enforcement and remedies
[s
92B] (5) Subsection (1)(b) to (d) only applies
when a provision of this Act is contravened.
(6) This section is in addition to, and
does not limit, the Criminal Code,
chapter 2
and the Acts
Interpretation Act
1954 ,
section 41A. 92B
Attempts to commit offences
(1) A person
who attempts to
commit an
offence mentioned
in subsection (2) commits an
offence. Maximum penalty—the maximum penalty for
committing the offence attempted. (2)
Subsection (1) applies
to an offence
against any
of the following
provisions— (a) a provision
of the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter 4;
(b) an FTA consumer offence
provision; (c) section 45. (3)
The
Criminal Code, section 4, applies to subsection (1).
(4) A person charged with an offence
mentioned in subsection (2) may be convicted
of attempting to commit the offence. 93
Continuing offences Where a person
commits an offence defined in section 90, by failing to
furnish information or to produce records or a copy
of
them— (a) the person’s
obligation to
furnish the
information or
produce the records or a copy of them, as
the case may be, continues until
the person complies
with the
requirement even though in a particular case
a time was specified at,
by or within
which compliance was
required and that time has passed;
and Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
87
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 5
Enforcement and remedies [s 94] (b)
the
person shall commit a continuing offence in respect
of
each day after the day of conviction during which the
failure to comply with the requisition
continues; and (c) the person shall be liable to a
penalty of 2 penalty units for each day during which the offence
continues; and (d) the person
may be prosecuted from
time to
time in
respect of the offence. 94
Proceedings for offences (1)
Proceedings for
an offence against
this Act
for which the
maximum penalty is less than the higher
level penalty amount shall be taken in a summary way under
the Justices Act 1886 .
(2) Proceedings for
an offence against
this Act
for which the
maximum penalty is the higher level penalty
amount or more may be prosecuted either in a summary way
under the Justices Act 1886
or
on indictment, at the election of the prosecution.
(3) If, under subsection (2), the
prosecution elects to prosecute an offence against
this Act in a summary way under the Justices
Act
1886 — (a) the
maximum penalty
that may
be imposed for
that offence
is half of
the maximum penalty
stated for
the offence; and Example—
The maximum penalty
for an offence
against the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
151(1) (False or
misleading representations about goods or
services) is $1100000 for a body corporate or $220000 for a
person who is not a body corporate. If the offence is
prosecuted in a summary way, the maximum penalty
that could be imposed for the offence would be $550000 for a
body corporate or $110000 for a person who is not a body
corporate. (b) for all purposes the offence alleged
shall be taken to be a simple offence and not an indictable
offence. (4) If, under subsection (2), the
prosecution elects to prosecute an offence against
this Act on indictment— Page 88 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 5 Enforcement and remedies
[s
94] (a) the tribunal of fact as well as law
shall consist of a judge of the court in which the trial takes
place sitting alone; and (b)
the
Criminal Code with all necessary adaptations shall
be
read and construed with this Act. (5)
The
maximum term of imprisonment that a court may order in
default of payment of a penalty imposed
under this Act is 1 year. (6)
A proceeding for
an offence against
this Act
may be commenced only
by— (a) an inspector; or (b)
another person, with the commissioner’s
approval. (7) In this section— higher
level penalty
amount ,
in relation to
a maximum penalty for an
offence, means an amount of maximum penalty that is, or that
is calculated to be— (a) if
the person committing the
offence is
a body corporate—$1100000; or (b)
if the person
committing the
offence is
not a body
corporate—$220000. Example of
offence for which the maximum penalty is the higher level
penalty amount— The
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section
194(1) (Supplying etc.
consumer goods
that do
not comply with
safety standards)
provides for a penalty of $1100000 for a body corporate or
$220000 for a person who is not a body
corporate. Example of offence for which the maximum
penalty is calculated to be less than the higher
level penalty amount— Section 45(1) (Compliance with
embargo notice)
provides for
a maximum penalty
of
200 penalty units
for a body corporate
or
40 penalty units for a person who is not a body
corporate. If the value of a penalty unit for
that section is $110 (see section 45(6)), the maximum
penalty for the offence is calculated to be
$22000 for a body corporate or $4400 for a
person who is not a body corporate. Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 89
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 5 Enforcement and remedies
[s
95] Not authorised —indicative
only 95 Conduct by
directors, servants or agents (1)
If, in a
proceeding under
this Act
in respect of
conduct engaged in by a
body corporate, it is necessary to establish the
state of mind of the body corporate, it is
sufficient to show that a director, servant or agent of the
body corporate, being a director, servant or agent by whom the
conduct was engaged in within the
scope of
the person’s actual
or apparent authority, had
that state of mind. (2) Any conduct engaged in on behalf of a
body corporate— (a) by a
director, servant
or agent of
the body corporate
within the
scope of
the person’s actual
or apparent authority;
or (b) by any other person at the direction
or with the consent or agreement (whether express or implied) of
a director, servant or agent of the body corporate, if
the giving of the direction, consent or agreement is
within the scope of the actual
or apparent authority
of the director,
servant or agent; shall be deemed,
for the purposes of this Act, to have been engaged in also
by the body corporate. (3) If,
in a proceeding under
this Act
in respect of
conduct engaged
in by a
person other
than a
body corporate, it
is necessary to
establish the
state of
mind of
the person, it
is sufficient to show that a servant or
agent of the person, being a servant or agent
by whom the conduct was engaged in within the
scope of
the servant’s or
agent’s actual
or apparent authority, had
that state of mind. (4) Conduct engaged in on behalf of a
person other than a body corporate— (a)
by a
servant or agent of the person within the scope of
the
actual or apparent authority of the servant or agent;
or (b) by any other
person at the direction or with the consent or agreement
(whether express or implied) of a servant or agent of the
first person, if the giving of the direction, Page 90
Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 5 Enforcement and remedies
[s
97] consent or agreement is within the scope of
the actual or apparent authority of the servant or
agent; shall be
taken, for
the purposes of
this Act,
to have been
engaged in also by the first person.
(5) A reference in
this section to the
state of mind of a person includes a
reference to
the knowledge, intention, opinion,
belief or purpose of the person and the
person’s reasons for that intention, opinion, belief or
purpose. (6) For the purposes of this
section— conduct also
includes the
making of
any omission, inadvertently or
otherwise. 97 Proceedings for an offence against
this Act The provisions of the Criminal Code, section
23 to the extent that it provides exculpation from criminal
responsibility for an act or
omission that
constitutes an
offence against
this Act,
and the provisions of
the Criminal Code,
section 24 do
not apply in respect of any offence
against this Act. 101 Mode of enforcement of
compensation Without derogating from any other right to
enforce an order made under
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), chapter 5, part
5-2, division 4 (the ACL(Q) provision )—
(a) if an order made under the ACL(Q)
provision orders a person to pay an amount of money—on the
filing of that order in the registry of a court that has
jurisdiction in an action for
debt for
that amount,
the order shall
be enforceable as an order made by that
court; and (b) any other amount of money a person is
liable to pay as a consequence of
an order made
under the
ACL(Q) provision may be
recovered from the person by action as for a debt in
any court of competent jurisdiction. Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 91
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 5 Enforcement and remedies
[s
103A] Not authorised —indicative
only 103A Examination
costs (1) In this section— examination includes test
and analysis. services includes product
related services. supplies includes—
(a) offer to supply; and
(b) in relation
to the supply
of goods—expose, exhibit
or possess for supply.
(2) The commissioner may recover from a
person who supplies goods or services the commissioner’s
reasonable costs of an examination of the goods or services
if the examination— (a) assists in establishing that the goods
or services do not comply with
a safety standard
under section
83, or an information standard
or safety standard
under the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), applying
to their supply; or (b)
results in
an order being
made under
section 85, or
under the
Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section 109 or
114, about the goods or services. (3)
Also, the commissioner may recover from a
person who gives to an inspector false or misleading
information, records or a copy of
records in
contravention of
this Act
the commissioner’s reasonable costs
of an examination that
assists in establishing the contravention
had happened. (4) Costs recoverable under this section
may be recovered— (a) as a debt payable to the commissioner;
or (b) in a proceeding mentioned in
subsection (6). (5) Before starting a proceeding to
recover costs from a person under this
section, the commissioner must give the person the
commissioner’s signed certificate—
(a) outlining the examination; and
(b) stating the amount of the costs of the
examination. Page 92 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 6 General [s 104]
(6) On application by
the commissioner, a
court that
finds a
person guilty
of an offence
against this
Act may order
the person to
pay the commissioner the
cost of
an examination that assisted in
establishing that the offence had happened. Not
authorised —indicative only
Part
6 General 104
Impersonation A
person shall
not falsely represent
that the
person is
an inspector or that the person is an
officer of the department. Maximum penalty—100 penalty
units. 105 Reference to consumer authorities and
other matters restricted A person shall
not, in trade or commerce, in connection with the
supply or
possible supply
of goods or
services or
in connection with the promotion by any
means of the supply or use of goods or services—
(a) without the Minister’s prior written
agreement— (i) refer to
an inspector, the
commissioner or
an officer of the department; or
(ii) use
an expression that
is, or that
resembles, the
expression ‘Office of Fair Trading’;
or (iii) use,
in relation to
a matter falling
within the
functions of the commissioner, an expression
that is, or that
resembles, the
current or
a previous name of the
department; or (b) falsely represent that any goods or
services are produced or provided— (i)
by a
person holding a royal warrant; or (ii)
for any government or
department of
any government or for the service of Her
Majesty. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
93
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 6 General [s 106]
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
Not authorised —indicative
only 106 Savings of rights
and remedies Nothing in this Act derogates from any right
of action or other right or remedy that a person has apart from
this Act. 107 Contracting out prohibited
This
Act has effect even though any provision in any contract
or
agreement purportedly provides expressly or impliedly to
the
contrary. 109 Limitation of action
(1) No liability shall be incurred by the
Crown or any person— (a) because
of any disclosure made
to the commissioner, any officer of
the department or any inspector; or (b)
on account of
any disclosure or
publication made
in good faith
by the Minister,
the commissioner or
by someone on the commissioner’s behalf,
concerning any of the following
matters if
the Minister or
the commissioner is satisfied it is in the
public interest to make the disclosure or publication—
(i) the supply of goods or
services; (ii) the
commercial or
business reputation of
any person associated with
the supply of
goods or
services; (iii)
the quality or
standard of
goods or
services supplied by any
person; (iv) a contravention
or alleged contravention of this Act or the operation
or enforcement of this Act. (2)
Without limiting subsection (1), no
liability shall be incurred by the Crown,
the Minister, the commissioner, a person acting on the
commissioner’s behalf, an officer of the department or
an
inspector on account of any act or thing— Page 94
Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 6 General [s 110]
(a) done or omitted to be done under this
Act; or (b) done or omitted to be done genuinely
for the purposes of this Act and without negligence.
(3) This section
does not
affect the
liability of
a person to
disciplinary action under the
Public Service Act 2008 .
(4) The provisions of this Act shall be
read and construed subject to the provisions of any other Act
that limit the liability of the Crown or any
other person. 110 Preservation of secrecy
(1) A person
who is or
was at any
time the
commissioner, an
assistant commissioner or an officer of the
department, or an inspector shall
not, other
than in
the course of
the person’s duty under this
Act or where it is competent to the person so to do because of
a provision of this Act, directly or indirectly,
communicate information that
came to
the person’s knowledge
as a consequence of
the person holding
that appointment or
position. (2) It is competent— (a)
to
the commissioner, an officer of the department, and
an inspector to
communicate to
a person whose
complaint concerning any matter has been
investigated by the bureau, or to QCAT, information
concerning that matter, which has come to his or her
knowledge because of the investigation and
which is
of a class
of information that the commissioner has
authorised, either generally or in a particular case, to be so
communicated; and (b) to
the commissioner or
a person authorised in
that behalf
by the commissioner to
make a
disclosure or
publication concerning any of the matters
referred to in section 109(1)(b); and (c)
to the commissioner or
a person authorised in
that behalf
by the commissioner to
communicate to
the appropriate Minister or official of
the Crown in right of Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
95
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 6
General [s 112] the
Commonwealth or
of Queensland or
of any other
State or
of a Territory
information which
the commissioner considers
should be
communicated for
the purpose of
the administration of
any law of
the Commonwealth or of Queensland or of
any other State or of a Territory. (2A)
The commissioner may
communicate to
the appropriate Minister
or official of
another country
information that
the commissioner considers
should be
communicated for
the administration of the law of the other
country. (3) Subsection (1) shall not be construed
to prohibit any person referred to in that subsection when
called as a witness in any legal proceedings from
answering any
question that
the person is compellable to answer in
those proceedings. (4) In no case shall a person referred to
in subsection (1) disclose or be
compelled to
disclose the
source of
information that
came
to the person’s knowledge in consequence of the person
holding an appointment or position under
this Act. (5) Subsection (4) does not apply in any
case where the person or the body that is the source of the
information consents to the disclosure. (6)
Subsection (1) is taken also to refer to a
person who was at any time— (a)
a
member of the former Consumer Safety Committee or
former Consumer Affairs Council; or
(b) an officer of the former Office of
Fair Trading. 112 Evidence (1)
In
any proceedings under this Act— (a)
where— (i)
a published statement
is intended, or
apparently intended,
to promote the
supply or
use of any
goods or services; and Page 96
Current as at [Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 6 General [s 112]
Not authorised —indicative only
(ii) a name, business
name, address, telephone number, post
office box
number, facsimile
number, telex
number, or
newspaper office
reply number
specified in the statement is that of a
person, or the agent of a person, who— (A)
is the owner,
whether alone
or jointly with
another person
or other persons,
of such goods; or
(B) is a supplier of such goods or
services; or (C) has an interest, otherwise than as
owner, in such goods; or (D)
has
an interest, otherwise than as supplier, in the supply of
such services; it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is
proved, that the person or agent, as the case may be, caused
the statement to be published; and (b)
in
which it is alleged that a person in contravention of
the
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section 29
or
151 falsely represented that a vehicle as at a particular
time
had not travelled more than a specified distance—
(i) the distance shown on the odometer of
the vehicle at any time shall be taken,
unless the
contrary is
proved, to be a representation to all
persons that the vehicle had not travelled more than the
distance so shown; and (ii)
evidence that, at any time before the
representation was made, the distance shown on the odometer
of the vehicle was greater than the distance
specified in the representation shall be evidence and,
unless the contrary is proved, conclusive evidence
that the representation was false; and
(c) in relation to an offence against
section 90 in respect of a failure to furnish information or to
produce records or a copy of them, an allegation or averment in
a charge that a person failed as required to furnish
information, or produce records
or a copy
of them shall
be evidence Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 97
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 6 General [s 112]
Not authorised —indicative
only and, unless the contrary is proved,
conclusive evidence of the matter so alleged or averred;
and (d) it shall not be necessary to prove the
appointment of an inspector or
other officer
or the authority
of the inspector or
officer to do any act, make any requirement or give any
order; and (e) the authority of any person to take
any proceeding shall be presumed unless the contrary is
proved; and (f) a printed document that
purports— (i) to be a standard, rule, code or
specification of an association or
body referred
to in, or
prescribed under, the
regulations; and (ii) to have been
published or issued by or on behalf of that association
or body; is evidence of that standard, rule, code or
specification. (2) In a
proceeding against
a person under
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), section 236, in a proceeding in which
the court may
make an
order under
the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), section 238 or in an application under
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland), section 237 or
239 for an order against a person, a finding of any fact by a
court made in proceedings under the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 5, part 5-2, division 2 or
for an offence
against this
Act in which
that person
has been found to have contravened, or to
have been involved in a contravention of, a provision of this
Act is evidence of that fact and
the finding may
be proved by
production of
a document under the seal of the court
from which the finding appears. (3)
In a proceeding to
recover costs
under section
103A, a document that purports to be—
(a) a certificate mentioned in section
103A(5); and (b) endorsed with the commissioner’s
signed statement that the certificate was given to a person
on a specified date; Page 98 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 7 Transitional provisions for Equity and
Fair Trading (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999
[s
113] is evidence of
the matters stated
in the certificate and
the endorsement. (4)
In
subsection (1)(f)(i)— regulations includes
regulations under
section 139G of
the Competition and Consumer Act.
113 Regulation-making power
(1) The Governor
in Council may
make regulations under
this Act.
(2) A regulation may be made for or about
a matter mentioned in the schedule. (3)
A regulation may
provide for
an offence punishable by
a maximum penalty of 20 penalty
units. 114 Approval of forms The chief
executive may approve forms for use under this Act.
Part
7 Transitional provisions for
Equity and Fair Trading (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1999 115 Transitional
provision for references to commissioner for consumer
affairs A reference in any Act or document to the
commissioner for consumer affairs may, if the context
permits, be taken to be a reference to the commissioner for fair
trading. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
99
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part 8
Transitional provision for Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2003 [s 117]
Part
8 Transitional provision for
Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2003 117
Transitional provision for actions for
damages and compensation and other remedial orders—TPA,
ss 82 and 87 Sections 99,
100 and 103,
as in force
before the
commencement of this section, continue to
apply to an act or omission that is a contravention of part 3,
division 1 (other than section 39), section 52 or 53 or part
3, division 2A that happens before the commencement.
Part
9 Transitional provision for
Criminal Proceeds Confiscation and
Other Acts Amendment Act 2009 118
Existing exemptions and applications for
exemptions for section 63 (1)
On
the commencement— (a) any relevant exemption existing
immediately before the commencement is revoked; and
(b) any application for
a relevant exemption
existing immediately
before the commencement ends; and (c)
any entitlement or
expectation that
anyone has
immediately before the commencement to apply
for or to be given a relevant exemption is
extinguished. (2) In this section— Page 100
Current as at [Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 10 Transitional provisions for Fair
Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Amendment Act 2010
[s
119] commencement means
the commencement of
the Criminal Proceeds
Confiscation and Other Acts Amendment Act 2009 ,
section 68. relevant
exemption means
an exemption given
under section 71A for
section 63. Not authorised —indicative only
Part
10 Transitional provisions for Fair
Trading (Australian Consumer
Law)
Amendment Act 2010 119 Definitions for this part
In
this part— amending Act means the
Fair
Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Amendment
Act 2010 . commencement means the day
this definition commences. 120 Transitional
provision for references to Office of Consumer Affairs
or Office of Fair Trading A reference in any Act or document to
the Office of Consumer Affairs or
the Office of
Fair Trading
may, if
the context permits,
be taken to
be a reference
to whichever of
the following is appropriate in the
circumstances— (a) the commissioner; (b)
the
department in which this Act is administered. 121
Transitional provision relating to
undertakings and the register of undertakings (1)
The
register of undertakings kept under section 91L before the
commencement continues after the
commencement to be the register kept for that section as
amended by the amending Act. (2)
An undertaking (an
old undertaking )
that, immediately before the
commencement, was still in force and was included
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
101
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Part
10 Transitional provisions for Fair Trading (Australian Consumer
Law) Amendment Act 2010 [s 122] in
the register continues
to have effect
after the
commencement, to the greatest practicable
extent, as if it were an undertaking (a
new undertaking )
given under
the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland),
chapter 5, part 5-1, division 1. (3)
Without limiting
subsection (2), a
breach of
the old undertaking that
happens after
the commencement must
be dealt with as if it were a breach of a
new undertaking. (4) For subsection
(3), a reference in
an old undertaking to
a provision of this Act that is repealed
on the commencement must be
taken, to
the greatest practicable extent,
to be a
reference to
a provision of
the Australian Consumer
Law (Queensland) that corresponds to the
repealed provision. 122 Proceedings (1)
A proceeding started
under this
Act before the
commencement must
be completed under
this Act
as if the
amending Act had not been enacted.
(2) After the
commencement, a
relevant proceeding may
be started, and
may be completed, under
this Act
as if the
amending Act had not been enacted.
(3) Subsection (2) applies only if, at the
time the proceeding is started, it
could have
been started
under this
Act if the
amending Act had not been enacted.
(4) In this section— relevant
proceeding means a proceeding in relation to—
(a) a contravention of
this Act
happening before
the commencement; or (b)
another matter or thing arising under this
Act before the commencement. 123
Unfair contract terms (1)
The
Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 2, part
2-3— Page 102
Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Part 10 Transitional provisions for Fair
Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Amendment Act 2010
[s
123] (a) applies to
a contract entered
into on
or after the
commencement; and (b)
does not
apply to
a contract entered
into before
the commencement. (2)
Despite subsection (1)(b), if a contract
entered into before the commencement is
renewed on
or after the
commencement, the Australian
Consumer Law (Queensland), chapter 2, part 2-3 applies to
the contract as renewed, on and from the day (the
renewal day
) on which
the renewal takes
effect, in
relation to conduct that happens on or after
the renewal day. (3) Also, if
a term of
a contract entered
into before
the commencement is varied on or after the
commencement, and subsection (2) has
not already applied
in relation to
the contract, the Australian Consumer Law
(Queensland), chapter 2, part 2-3 applies to the term as
varied, on and from the day (the
variation day
) on which
the variation takes
effect, in
relation to conduct that happens on or after
the variation day. (4) If subsection (3) applies to a term of
a contract, the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), sections
23(2) and 27 apply to the contract. Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 103
Not authorised —indicative
only Fair Trading Act 1989
Schedule Schedule
Subject matters for regulations
section 113 1
Functions, powers and duties
The
discharge of any function and the exercise of any powers
by
any body or person appointed under this Act. 2
Qualifications and appointments
The
qualifications required before a person is appointed under
this
Act. 3 Supply of services Prohibiting the
supply of services mentioned in the regulation, and
authorising the
supply of
services mentioned
in the regulation
subject to conditions or
restrictions prescribed in
the
regulation. 4 Prevention of injury
Any
matter of any kind relating to the prevention of injury to
any person from
the supply or
use of services
under any
circumstances. 5
Prevention of deception of consumers
Any matter relating
to the prevention of
deception of
consumers in
relation to
the supply to
them of
goods or
services or relating to the suppression of
practices in trade or commerce that
in the opinion
of the commissioner are
undesirable having regard to the interests
of consumers. Page 104 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Fair
Trading Act 1989 Schedule 6
Matters ancillary to Act Any matter
relating to the manufacture or marketing of goods
or services where
regulation facilitates the
operation or
enforcement of this Act. Not
authorised —indicative only
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
105