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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT AND REPEAL BILL 2004

                        Western Australia


Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment
          and Repeal Bill 2004

                          CONTENTS


      Part 1 -- Preliminary
1.    Short title                                 2
2.    Commencement                                2
      Part 2 -- Builders' Registration Act 1939
           amended
3.    The Act amended                             3
4.    Section 3 amended                           3
      Part 3 -- Consumer Affairs Act 1971
           amended
5.    The Act amended                             4
6.    Section 23G amended                         4
7.    Section 23Q amended                         4
8.    Section 23R amended                         4
9.    Section 23U amended                         5
      Part 4 -- Credit (Administration)
           Act 1984 amended
10.   The Act amended                             6
11.   Part VA inserted                            6
      Part 5 -- Fair Trading Act 1987
           amended
12.   The Act amended                             9
13.   Part II Division 4 inserted                 9



                              334--1              page i
Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004



Contents



           Part 6 -- Land Valuers Licensing
                Act 1978 amended
   14.     The Act amended                                       12
   15.     Section 12 amended                                    12
   16.     Section 13 amended                                    12
   17.     Section 23 amended                                    12
   18.     Section 24 amended                                    12
   19.     Section 25 amended                                    13
   20.     Section 28 amended                                    13
   21.     Section 29A amended                                   13
   22.     Section 33 amended                                    13
   23.     Section 36 amended                                    13
           Part 7 -- Motor Vehicle Dealers
                Act 1973 amended
   24.     The Act amended                                       14
   25.     Section 32K amended                                   14
           Part 8 -- Residential Tenancies Act 1987
                amended
   26.     The Act amended                                       15
   27.     Section 12B inserted                                  15
   28.     Section 26 amended                                    15
   29.     Section 29 amended                                    16
   30.     Validation                                            16
   31.     Schedule 1 amended                                    16
           Part 9 -- Retirement Villages Act 1992
                amended
   32.     The Act amended                                       18
   33.     Section 5 amended                                     18
           Part 10 -- Settlement Agents Act 1981
                amended
   34.     The Act amended                                       19
   35.     Section 49 amended                                    19




page ii
      Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004



                                                            Contents



         Part 11 -- Trading Stamp Act 1981
              repealed
36.      Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed                       21
         Part 12 -- Travel Agents Act 1985
              amended
37.      The Act amended                                       22




                                                             page iii
                           Western Australia


                     LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY



  Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment
            and Repeal Bill 2004


                               A Bill for


An Act to --
•  amend the Builders' Registration Act 1939;
•  amend the Consumer Affairs Act 1971;
•  amend the Credit (Administration) Act 1984;
•  amend the Fair Trading Act 1987;
•  amend the Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978;
•  amend the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973;
•  amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1987;
•  amend the Retirement Villages Act 1992;
•  amend the Settlement Agents Act 1981;
•  amend the Travel Agents Act 1985;
•  repeal the Trading Stamp Act 1981,
and for related purposes.



The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:




                                                         page 1
    Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
    Part 1        Preliminary

    s. 1



                             Part 1 -- Preliminary
    1.         Short title
               This Act may be cited as the Consumer Protection Legislation
               Amendment and Repeal Act 2004.

5   2.         Commencement
         (1)   This Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation.
         (2)   Different days may be fixed under subsection (1) for different
               provisions.




    page 2
               Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                         Builders' Registration Act 1939 amended       Part 2

                                                                               s. 3



          Part 2 -- Builders' Registration Act 1939 amended
     3.         The Act amended
                The amendments in this Part are to the Builders' Registration
                Act 1939*.
5               [* Reprinted as at 11 January 2002.
                   For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                   Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 39.]

     4.         Section 3 amended
                Section 3(1a) is repealed and the following subsection is
10              inserted instead --
           "
               (1a)   Notwithstanding subsection (1) --
                       (a) section 4B applies throughout the State; and
                       (b) sections 12A and 12B apply throughout the
15                           State to building work that is home building
                             work as defined in the Home Building
                             Contracts Act 1991 section 3(1).
                                                                                ".




                                                                            page 3
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 3        Consumer Affairs Act 1971 amended

     s. 5



                Part 3 -- Consumer Affairs Act 1971 amended
     5.             The Act amended
                    The amendments in this Part are to the Consumer Affairs
                    Act 1971*.
5                   [* Reprint 4 as at 9 July 2004.]

     6.             Section 23G amended
                    Section 23G(1) is amended by deleting "12 months" and
                    inserting instead --
                    "     3 years   ".

10   7.             Section 23Q amended
                    Section 23Q(6) is amended by inserting after "revoke" --
                    " or amend           ".

     8.             Section 23R amended
          (1)       Section 23R(2), (3) and (4) are repealed and the following
15                  subsections are inserted instead --
                "
                    (2)     The Commissioner may make an order prohibiting the
                            supply of goods of a class or description without
                            making a reference to the Committee under
20                          section 23L(1) if --
                              (a) the supply of goods of that class or description
                                     is prohibited under a law of the Commonwealth
                                     or another State or a Territory; and
                              (b) the Commissioner considers it necessary in the
25                                   interests of the safety of the public to make the
                                     order.
                    (3)     If the supply of goods of a class or description is
                            allowed under a law of the Commonwealth or another
                            State or a Territory subject to conditions or restrictions

     page 4
                    Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                                  Consumer Affairs Act 1971 amended         Part 3

                                                                                       s. 9



                           relating to the goods, the Commissioner, without
                           making a reference to the Committee under
                           section 23L(1) in respect of goods of that class or
                           description, may if he considers it necessary in the
5                          interests of the safety of the public make an order
                           allowing the supply of goods of that class or
                           description in this State, subject to conditions or
                           restrictions specified or referred to in the order being
                           conditions or restrictions that are in conformity with
10                         those specified or referred to under that law that relate
                           to the goods.
                     (4)   For the avoidance of doubt, an order made under
                           subsection (2) or (3) is not affected by the subsequent
                           amendment, repeal or expiry of a law referred to in
15                         those subsections.
                                                                                        ".
          (2)        Section 23R(6) is repealed and the following subsection is
                     inserted instead --
                "
20                   (6)   The Commissioner may by notice published in the
                           Gazette on his own motion, or on the recommendation
                           of the Committee, revoke or amend an order made
                           under this section.
                                                                                        ".

25   9.              Section 23U amended
                     Section 23U(2)(b) is amended by deleting "Standards Australia"
                     and inserting instead --
                            "
                                   Standards Australia, as in force at the time of
30                                 adoption or as amended from time to time
                                                                                        ".




                                                                                  page 5
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 4        Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended

     s. 10



         Part 4 -- Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended
     10.       The Act amended
               The amendment in this Part is to the Credit (Administration)
               Act 1984*.
5              [* Reprint 2 as at 6 August 2004.]

     11.       Part VA inserted
               After section 44 the following Part is inserted --
     "
                     Part VA -- Consumer Credit Fund
10           44A.    Establishment of Consumer Credit Fund
               (1)   There is hereby established a fund to be called the
                     Consumer Credit Fund.
               (2)   The Consumer Credit Fund is --
                      (a)   to form part of the Trust Fund constituted under
15                          section 9 of the Financial Administration and
                            Audit Act 1985; or
                      (b)   with the approval of the Treasurer, to be kept at
                            a bank.
               (3)   If subsection (2)(b) applies, moneys standing to the
20                   credit of the Consumer Credit Fund that are not
                     immediately required for the purposes of section 44C
                     may, if approved by the Treasurer, be invested in any
                     manner that moneys in the Public Bank Account may
                     be invested under section 38 of the Financial
25                   Administration and Audit Act 1985.




     page 6
      Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
               Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended       Part 4

                                                                 s. 11



     44B.    Payments to Consumer Credit Fund
       (1)   The Consumer Credit Fund is the fund established and
             operated for the purpose of section 106 of the
             Consumer Credit (Western Australia) Code.
5      (2)   The Consumer Credit Fund is to be credited with --
              (a) any amount paid to the fund by a credit
                   provider;
              (b) income derived from the investment, under
                   section 44A, of moneys standing to the credit of
10                 the Consumer Credit Fund;
              (c) any moneys received by, made available to or
                   payable to the Consumer Credit Fund;
              (d) costs awarded to the Commissioner in a
                   proceeding under this Act;
15            (e) costs awarded to the Commissioner in a
                   proceeding under the Credit Act 1984.

     44C.    Payments from Consumer Credit Fund
             The Consumer Credit Fund is to be applied by the
             Commissioner for --
20            (a) the payment of such moneys as are approved by
                   the Minister, on the terms approved by the
                   Minister, for the following purposes --
                      (i) providing financial counselling services
                          to consumers;
25                   (ii) giving legal advice to consumers about
                          consumer credit;
                    (iii) providing information about consumer
                          credit;
                    (iv) providing research about the use of
30                        credit;
              (b) the administration of this Act;


                                                               page 7
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 4        Credit (Administration) Act 1984 amended

     s. 11



                     (c)   legal fees incurred by the Commissioner, or
                           costs awarded against the Commissioner, in a
                           proceeding under this Act; and
                     (d)   legal fees incurred by the Commissioner, or
5                          costs awarded against the Commissioner, in a
                           proceeding under the Credit Act 1984.

             44D.   Report on operations of Consumer Credit Fund
                    For the purposes of section 52 of the Financial
                    Administration and Audit Act 1985, the administration
10                  of the Consumer Credit Fund is to be taken to be a
                    service of the department principally assisting the
                    Minister in the administration of this Act.
                                                                            ".




     page 8
            Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                               Fair Trading Act 1987 amended        Part 5

                                                                          s. 12



             Part 5 -- Fair Trading Act 1987 amended
     12.     The Act amended
             The amendment in this Part is to the Fair Trading Act 1987*.
             [* Reprinted as at 16 November 2001.
5               For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 131 and
                Act No. 4 of 2004.]

     13.     Part II Division 4 inserted
             After section 32 the following Division is inserted in Part II --
10   "
                  Division 4 -- Third party trading schemes
           32A.   Interpretation
                  In this Division --
                  "approved third party trading scheme" means a
15                    third party trading scheme in relation to which a
                      notice has been given under section 32B;
                  "prohibited third party trading scheme" means a
                      third party trading scheme that is the subject of a
                      declaration under section 32C;
20                "third party trading scheme" means a scheme or
                      arrangement under which the acquisition of goods
                      or services by a consumer from a supplier is a
                      condition, or one of a number of conditions,
                      compliance with which gives rise, or apparently
25                    gives rise, to an entitlement to a benefit from a
                      third party in the form of goods or services or
                      some discount, concession, or advantage in
                      connection with the acquisition of goods or
                      services.



                                                                        page 9
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 5        Fair Trading Act 1987 amended

     s. 13



             32B.    Minister may approve third party trading scheme
               (1)   The Minister may, on application, give notice in
                     writing that a specified third party trading scheme is an
                     approved third party trading scheme.
5              (2)   The Minister is not to approve a third party trading
                     scheme under this section unless satisfied that the
                     scheme is genuine, reasonable, and not contrary to the
                     interests of consumers.
               (3)   An approval under this section may be given subject to
10                   such conditions as the Minister thinks fit and specifies
                     in the notice to the applicant.
               (4)   An application under this section is to be supported by
                     such information as the Minister may require.

             32C.    Prohibition of third party trading scheme
15             (1)   The Commissioner may recommend to the Minister
                     that a third party trading scheme be declared to be a
                     prohibited third party trading scheme if --
                       (a) the scheme is not an approved third party
                              trading scheme and the Commissioner is of the
20                            opinion that the scheme is not genuine and
                              reasonable or is contrary to the interests of
                              consumers;
                       (b) in the case of an approved third party trading
                              scheme, a condition of the approval has been
25                            contravened or not complied with; or
                       (c) in the case of an approved third party trading
                              scheme, the scheme is conducted in a manner
                              that is not genuine, reasonable or in the
                              interests of consumers.
30             (2)   The Minister may, on the recommendation of the
                     Commissioner, by notice published in the Gazette,


     page 10
      Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                         Fair Trading Act 1987 amended        Part 5

                                                                       s. 13



             declare a third party trading scheme to be a prohibited
             third party trading scheme.
       (3)   The Minister may by notice published in the Gazette
             revoke a declaration under this section.

5    32D.    Offence
             A person who --
              (a) acts as a promoter of a prohibited third party
                    trading scheme;
              (b) as a party to a prohibited third party trading
10                  scheme, supplies goods or services; or
              (c) publishes an advertisement relating to a
                    prohibited third party trading scheme or causes
                    such an advertisement to be published,
             commits an offence.
15           Penalty: $5 000.

     32E.    Codes of practice
             The Governor may make regulations prescribing codes
             of practice to be complied with by persons who act as
             promoters of third party trading schemes or supply
20           goods or services as parties to such schemes.
                                                                         ".




                                                                 page 11
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 6        Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 amended

     s. 14



       Part 6 -- Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 amended
     14.       The Act amended
               The amendments in this Part are to the Land Valuers Licensing
               Act 1978*.
5              [* Reprinted as at 3 May 2002.
                  For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                  Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 210.]

     15.       Section 12 amended
               Section 12(6) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting
10             instead --
               "   $5 000.    ".

     16.       Section 13 amended
               Section 13(2) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting
               instead --
15             "   $5 000.    ".

     17.       Section 23 amended
               Section 23(1) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting
               instead --
               "   $50 000.    ".

20   18.       Section 24 amended
               Section 24(1) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting
               instead --
               "   $50 000.    ".




     page 12
           Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                   Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 amended         Part 6

                                                                         s. 19



     19.    Section 25 amended
            Section 25(3) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting
            instead --
            "   $5 000.   ".

5    20.    Section 28 amended
            Section 28(1)(b) is amended by deleting "$500" and inserting
            instead --
            "   $10 000 ".

     21.    Section 29A amended
10          Section 29A(1) is amended by deleting "$250." and inserting
            instead --
            "   $2 000.   ".

     22.    Section 33 amended
            Section 33(2) is amended by deleting "$500." and inserting
15          instead --
            "   $5 000.   ".

     23.    Section 36 amended
            Section 36(2)(g) is amended by deleting "$100" and inserting
            instead --
20          "   $1 000 ".




                                                                   page 13
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 7        Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 amended

     s. 24



           Part 7 -- Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 amended
     24.       The Act amended
               The amendments in this Part are to the Motor Vehicle Dealers
               Act 1973*.
5              [* Reprinted as at 14 November 1996.
                  For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                  Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 258.]

     25.       Section 32K amended
               Section 32K(4) is amended by deleting "agent" and inserting
10             instead --
               "   dealer   ".




     page 14
                Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                          Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended        Part 8

                                                                               s. 26



           Part 8 -- Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended
     26.         The Act amended
                 The amendments in this Part are to the Residential Tenancies
                 Act 1987*.
5                [* Reprinted as at 22 January 1999.
                    For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                    Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 328-9.]

     27.         Section 12B inserted
                 After section 12A the following section is inserted --
10   "
               12B.    Review of decisions of clerk
                       A matter in respect of which the clerk has exercised
                       jurisdiction under section 12A may be reviewed by a
                       magistrate in accordance with the regulations.
15                                                                                 ".
     28.         Section 26 amended
                 Section 26(1) is repealed and the following subsection is
                 inserted instead --
           "
20               (1)   An order made by --
                        (a) a magistrate under this Act; or
                        (b) the clerk acting under section 12A, which has
                              not been reviewed by a magistrate and in
                              respect of which the time prescribed within
25                            which the review is to commence has expired,
                       is final and binding on all parties to the proceedings in
                       which the order is made and on all persons who under
                       this Act could have become entitled to be joined as a
                       party to the proceeding in which the order is made, and
30                     no appeal shall lie in respect of the order.
                                                                                   ".

                                                                             page 15
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 8        Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended

     s. 29



     29.         Section 29 amended
                 Section 29(4)(c) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed
                 form" and inserting instead --
                 "   in a form approved by the Minister           ".

5    30.         Validation
           (1)   Regulation 8 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 is,
                 and always was, as valid and effective as it would have been if
                 this Part had been in operation at the time the regulation was
                 made.
10         (2)   An act or thing done by a magistrate purporting to review a
                 matter under regulation 8 of the Residential Tenancies
                 Regulations 1989 is, and always was, as valid and effective as it
                 would have been if this Part had been in operation at the time
                 the act or thing was done.
15         (3)   The rights and liabilities of all persons purportedly affected by
                 the review of a matter under regulation 8 of the Residential
                 Tenancies Regulations 1989 are, and always have been, the
                 same as if this Part had been in operation at the time the matter
                 was reviewed.

20   31.         Schedule 1 amended
           (1)   The amendments in this section are to Schedule 1.
           (2)   Clause 2(1)(a) is amended by inserting after "either directly" --
                 "   , including by electronic means,   ".
           (3)   Clause 5(1)(a) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed form"
25               and inserting instead --
                 "   in a form approved by the Minister      ".
           (4)   Clause 5(1)(a)(ii) is amended by inserting after "lodged" --
                 "   , including lodged by facsimile or electronic means,   ".


     page 16
          Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                    Residential Tenancies Act 1987 amended        Part 8

                                                                      s. 31



    (5)    Clause 7(1)(a) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed form"
           and inserting instead --
           "   in a form approved by the Minister   ".
    (6)    Clause 7(3)(a) is amended by deleting "in the prescribed form"
5          and inserting instead --
           "   in a form approved by the Minister   ".




                                                                   page 17
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 9        Retirement Villages Act 1992 amended

     s. 32



             Part 9 -- Retirement Villages Act 1992 amended
     32.             The Act amended
                     The amendments in this Part are to the Retirement Villages
                     Act 1992*.
5                    [* Reprinted as at 22 January 1999.
                        For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                        Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 330.]

     33.             Section 5 amended
           (1)       Section 5 is amended by inserting before "Except as" the
10                   subsection designation "(1)".
           (2)       At the end of section 5 the following subsection is inserted --
                 "
                     (2)   This Act does not apply to a resident or prospective
                           resident of a retirement village or to the administering
15                         body of that retirement village if --
                             (a) the administering body is an "approved
                                   provider" as defined in the Aged Care Act 1997
                                   Schedule 1 of the Commonwealth in relation to
                                   the residential premises used or intended to be
20                                 used as a place of residence by the resident or
                                   prospective resident;
                             (b) the administering body provides, or is to
                                   provide, the resident or prospective resident
                                   with "residential care" as defined in the Aged
25                                 Care Act 1997 section 41-3 of the
                                   Commonwealth; and
                             (c) the resident or prospective resident is receiving,
                                   or is entitled to receive, residential care in
                                   respect of which the administering body is
30                                 eligible for a "residential care subsidy" as
                                   defined in the Aged Care Act 1997 Schedule 1
                                   of the Commonwealth.
                                                                                      ".

     page 18
               Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                            Settlement Agents Act 1981 amended       Part 10

                                                                              s. 34



           Part 10 -- Settlement Agents Act 1981 amended
     34.        The Act amended
                The amendment in this Part is to the Settlement Agents
                Act 1981*.
5               [* Reprinted as at 3 November 2000.
                   For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                   Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 350.]

     35.        Section 49 amended
                After section 49(5) the following subsections are inserted --
10         "
               (5a)   If --
                        (a)   a settlement of a real estate transaction or a
                              business transaction is completed;
                       (b)    the settlement agent who arranged or effected
15                            the settlement received moneys in respect of the
                              real estate transaction or business transaction in
                              the course of arranging or effecting the
                              settlement; and
                        (c)   the settlement agent is authorised in writing by
20                            the vendor to make a payment from those
                              moneys to an agent as payment of the whole or
                              part of the commission, reward or remuneration
                              to which the agent is entitled for arranging the
                              real estate transaction or business transaction to
25                            which the settlement relates,
                      the settlement agent may, despite subsections (4) and
                      (5), pay to the agent from those moneys such sum as
                      the settlement agent is so authorised to pay.
               (5b)   In subsection (5a) --
30                    "agent" means an agent as defined in section 4(1) of
                           the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978 who

                                                                           page 19
    Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
    Part 10       Settlement Agents Act 1981 amended

    s. 35



                      is entitled to a commission, reward or
                      remuneration for arranging the real estate
                      transaction or business transaction to which a
                      settlement relates;
5                 "vendor" means the person or persons lawfully
                      entitled to receive the purchase price in respect of
                      a real estate transaction or business transaction.
                                                                             ".




    page 20
      Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
                       Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed      Part 11

                                                               s. 36



      Part 11 -- Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed
36.    Trading Stamp Act 1981 repealed
       [* Reprint 1 as at 9 May 2003.]
       The Trading Stamp Act 1981 is repealed.




                                                            page 21
     Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
     Part 12       Travel Agents Act 1985 amended

     s. 37



                 Part 12 -- Travel Agents Act 1985 amended
     37.         The Act amended
           (1)   The amendments in this Part are to the Travel Agents Act 1985*.
                 [* Reprinted as at 6 June 2003.
5                   For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
                    Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 402 and
                    Acts Nos. 50 of 2003 and 4 of 2004.]
           (2)   Section 5(2) is amended as follows:
                  (a) in paragraph (b) by deleting "or any statutory
10                      corporation representing the Crown";
                  (b) in paragraph (c) by inserting after "prescribed" --
                        " statutory corporation or ".




 


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