Consumer policy framework
Public inquiry
This inquiry has concluded. The final inquiry report was released by the Australian Government on 8 May 2008.
The Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake an inquiry into Australia's consumer policy framework and its administration. Amongst other things, the Commission was to report on:
- ways to improve the consumer policy framework to assist and empower consumers, including disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers, to operate effectively in increasingly complex markets
- ways to better harmonise and coordinate consumer policy across jurisdictions, including by reducing reliance on industry-specific regulation and making greater use of general consumer regulation
- any areas of consumer regulation that are unlikely to provide net benefits and which could be revised or repealed
- the extent to which more effective use could be made of self-regulatory, co-regulatory, consumer education and consumer information approaches and principles-based regulation.
In undertaking its assessments, the Commission is to have regard to a range of matters including the:
- benefits of well-targeted consumer policy for consumer well being, efficiency and productivity;
- burden on consumers and businesses of unnecessary or poorly configured regulation
- need for consumer policy to be evidenced based; the shared responsibility of consumers, business and governments for responding to consumer issues
- impact of consumer polices on other government objectives such as promoting competition and facilitating trade.
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Media release: Productivity Commission Inquiry into Australia's Consumer Policy Framework
Draft report
The draft report for this project is not available online.
Please note: The draft report is for research purposes only. For final outcomes of this inquiry refer to the inquiry report.Key documents
Inquiry report
The final report of a Productivity Commission public inquiry into Australia’s consumer policy framework and its administration.
Submissions
Submissions
Public hearings
Public hearing transcripts for the public inquiry, Australia's consumer policy framework.
Comparison of generic consumer protection legislation
This consultancy report by Professor Stephen Corones and Professor Sharon Christensen, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology, was released with the draft report, Review of Australia's Consumer Policy Framework, on 12 December 2007.
CMOD model
CMOD is an Excel-based model developed by the Commission and released with the inquiry report, Review of Australia's Consumer Policy Framework. It quantifies the costs and benefits of its proposed reform package.