Consumers’ Federation of Australia has published its submission to the Commission’s Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration Draft Report.
The submission calls for additional public funding for consumer advocacy. Furthermore, CFA encourages the Productivity Commission to develop mechanisms which found fund the necessary consumer advocacy and input, aside from a call on the Federal Budget.
The submission notes that one method to fund consumer advocacy would be through amending the remedy framework for the Australian Consumer Law. It is noted that the Victorian ACL application legislation allows for a Victorian Consumer Law Fund. This allows for grants to be paid out of the fund to better consumer well-being, protection and fair trading.
CFA posits that the ACL and ASIC Act could both be amended to include a similar provision, for enforcement matters that are undertaken by ACCC.
The submission is available on the CFA website: CFA Draft Submission to Productivity Commission