News from Marine Queensland

Harmonised Workplace Safety Laws Delayed

The Commonwealth, New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have enacted the provisions of the Model WHS Act commencing 1 January 2012. However the operation of the national law has been delayed in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.

The Victorian Government has indicated that it wants more time to consider the Model Act and complete a regulatory impact statement. The Victorian Government does not want the new laws to operate before 1 January 2013.

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Warranties Against Defects

The ACCC has updated its web material relating to warranties against defects.

Click here to view the Warranties Against Defects article

The update follows a series of requests from industry associations about the need for transitional arrangements and/or a deferred operation of the warranties against defect requirements which commenced on 1 January 2012.

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ACCC Consumer Guarantee Campaign

The ACCC has launched a new campaign - Repair, Replace, Refund - highlighting consumer rights and business obligations under the consumer guarantees. The campaign intends to raise awareness of particular business obligations under the new consumer law.

It is in the interests of retailers that they have in place a reliable system to manage complaints about faulty or unsatisfactory goods. The ACCC resources for use in the campaign outline retailers obligations as follows: