Consumer policy framework

About the Inquiry

The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake an inquiry into Australia's consumer policy framework and its administration. Amongst other things, the Commission is 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• any areas of consumer regulation that are unlikely to provide net benefits and which could be revised or repealed; and
• 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; the burden on consumers and businesses of unnecessary or poorly configured regulation; the need for consumer policy to be evidenced based; the shared responsibility of consumers, business and governments for responding to consumer issues; and the impact of consumer polices on other government objectives such as promoting competition and facilitating trade.