News from Marine Queensland

RSS feed

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.

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.

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:

Grace Period for Compliance with Expression of Manufacturers Warranties

Under the Australian Consumer Law, from 1 January 2012 if a retailer sells a product with a warranty against defects, then the warranty must be expressed in a way that complies with the specific requirements of the Australian Consumer Law.

All documents ‘evidencing' a warranty against defects must be presented in a certain way, and must include specific information to ensure that consumers understand the warranty and know how to make a claim.

Super Levy Increase Bill

The Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill 2011 will transitionally increase the SG levy from 9% to 12% commencing from 1 July 2013 until 2019/2020. The provisions are dependent upon the passage of the Government's Minerals Resources Rent Tax Package which passed the Lower House on 23 November. On 10 November the Senate referred the MRRT package of bills to the Senate Economics Committee for inquiry and report.

Gift Card Issues Paper Released

The Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council has released an issues paper examining the need to regulate the issue and use of gift cards. The discussion paper which articulates a consumer view on the issues, suggests that a number of matters associated with gift card terms and conditions will come under consideration including:

Expiry dates - One of the main issues facing some consumers is when gift cards expire before the gift card holder has attempted to have it redeemed and where expiry dates vary greatly in duration causing confusion for some consumers;

Marina Survey Highlights Marinas Commitment to the Environment

The preliminary findings from the annual Health of the Australian Marina Survey have been released. Despite tough trading conditions the survey highlights that more marinas are committed to increase spending on improvements to environmental related facilities and technologies.

Qld plan to Increase Local Suppliers and Workers on Major Projects

Queensland has unveiled plans to drive more opportunity for local companies, create more jobs and help communities share in booming investment in major infrastructure and resources projects.

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade Andrew Fraser and Minister for Tourism, Small Business and Manufacturing Jan Jarratt have announced plans to extend the Local Industry Participation Policy from large government projects to major private sector projects.

Rule changes to fishing in the Gulf of Carpentaria

New changes to some recreational and commercial fishing rules are now in place in the Gulf of Carpentaria, ensuring continued sustainability and improved economic viability.

Fisheries Queensland Harvest Management general manager Dermot Tiernan said the changes to recreational fishing included those to size and possession (or "bag") limits of some popular species.

"In good news for recreational fishers, the size limit for barramundi in the Gulf of Carpentaria has been reduced from 60cm to 58cm," he said.

Coral Sea Marine Park Reserves - Industry and Public Meetings

Below are the meeting dates, times and venues for charter/game industry meetings to discuss the Coral Sea Marine Reserve proposals. Also listed are the open house sessions which are for general public. For further information visit the Coral Sea Region website.

Cairns

Game/charter fishers
Thurs 8 Dec 1300-1500
Sebel Cairns (Abbott St)

Open house
Thurs 8 Dec 1600-1900
Sebel