The Fair Trading Amendment Bill (Bill) is to be considered this week in Parliament, in what will be the Bill's second reading. As the Bill was discharged from the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee without a report on 12 August 2020, the Bill is moving to the second reading as introduced without the benefit of any amendments recommended by a select committee.
The Bill, as introduced, amends the Fair Trading Act 1986. You can read our previous updates on the proposed reforms here and the discharge of the Bill from the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee here. In summary, the Bill will introduce a prohibition against serious misconduct in trade, extend the current unfair contract regime to "small trade contracts" and amend the uninvited direct sales provisions.
We will provide further updates on the progress of the Bill and when it will enter into force when such indications are available.
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