Submission: Productivity Commission Review of Australia's Consumer Policy Framework Draft Report

Community legal centres are often the first to notice emerging consumer issues and are acutely aware of how they affect disadvantaged people.

We broadly support the draft recommendations made by the Productivity Commission. In particular:

• The consumer law should apply to all consumer transactions, including financial services
• The consumer law should address unfair contract terms
• Consumer regulators should be able to take representative actions on behalf of consumers
• There should be increased funding for consumer legal aid services and financial counselling services
• Disadvantaged consumers should have access to utility services at affordable prices,

However we do not support:

• That financial disclosures be exempt from the ‘misleading and deceptive conduct’ provision of the consumer law
• The removal of price caps applying to telcos and energy services
• “Safe harbour” contract terms that would be immune from action under unfair contract provisions

Read RLC's submission.