How does the ACCC seek to educate consumers and businesses about their reciprocal rights and responsibilities?
The ACCC has an active, wide-ranging communications and engagement approach. We have a dedicated team, based in each capital city, who spend their time out among the business community, directly dealing with their questions.
We also work closely with consumer and industry groups to disseminate information as widely as possible.
Two long-established ACCC advisory committees, the Small Business Consultative Committee and the Franchising Consultative Committee, exist to provide advice on small business and franchising issues. The committees are composed of industry associations, business people, researchers and educators.
We also work collaboratively with other federal and state agencies with a presence in the small business area to disseminate useful information out to businesses.
The ACCC has also developed a range of guidance and educational materials for both consumer and small business audiences. Accountants are a key professional body we work closely with. This information is available as written publications, FAQs and videos. We have a number of information subscriber networks that we find are a useful way of getting out regular updates and links to new or revised publications.
How do you see the new roles of Small Business Commissioner being introduced in some states fitting with the role of the ACCC?
We anticipate that the ACCC’s work and the work of Small Business Commissioners would be complementary. As our long experience with the Victorian Small Business Commissioner shows (and as the former Small Business Commissioner for the ACT myself), we know that a small business commissioner service can provide businesses with quick, easy access to mediation. This can be really helpful where there is a business-to-business dispute, or a franchisor-franchisee dispute. Mediation often results in a “win-win” outcome, and can help preserve an ongoing business relationship between both sides – something which litigation often destroys.
What are the main areas ACCC will be watching in the year ahead?
We will be paying close attention to compliance with the Australian Consumer Law, including the product safety requirements, consumer guarantees, unfair contract terms and carbon pricing claims. We will also continue to focus on unconscionable and anti-competitive conduct.
In addition, we will continue our work with the small business sector in order to ensure that they know not only their responsibilities under the law, but also their rights. That includes the right to compete fairly and equally.
