Fair Trading Coalition Supports Government Announcement on Trade Practices Act Reform

The Members of the FTC strongly support a strengthening of the Trade Practices Act and therefore welcome today’s announcement that the Government intends to reintroduce the Dawson Bill, with amendments, into the Parliament. The Fair Trading Coalition acknowledges the most recent efforts of the Government to ensure that the long-awaited amendments can move forward for the benefit, and with the support of, small business.

The Fair Trading Coalition supports the proposals outlined in the joint statement issued by the Treasurer and the Minister for Small Business and it looks forward to the foreshadowed consultations by the Government with small business organisations on the higher collective bargaining thresholds and the terms of the Government’s final proposals in relation to Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2) 2006; which will include amendments to the misuse of market power provisions and the unconscionable conduct provisions of the Act.

The Members of the Fair Trading Coalition are also particularly grateful for the part that the Prime Minister, the Minister for Small Business and Senator Ron Boswell have all played in recent dealings over these matters and for their assurances in respect of further consultations with small business over the remaining issues.

For further information please contact Michael Delaney, Convenor of the Fair Trading Coalition on 02 6273 4333

The Members of the Fair Trading Coalition are:

Apple & Pear Growers Association of SA Inc * Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association Ltd (AAAA) * Australian Automobile Dealers Association (AADA) * Australian Hotels Association (AHA) * Australian Motor Body Repairers Association (AMBRA) * Australian Newsagents’ Federation (ANF) * Australian Petroleum Agents and Distributors Association (APADA) * Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) * Australian Service Station and Convenience Store Association (ASSCSA) * Australian Business Enterprise Centres (BECA) * Chamber of Women in Business (CWB) * Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) * Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia Ltd (COSBOA) * Drycleaning Institute of Australia (DIA) * Growcom * The Horticulture Council Ltd (HAC) * Independent Liquor Group NSW (ILG) * Independent Liquor Stores Association (ILSA) * Liquor Stores Association of Victoria (LSAV) * Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) * Motor Trades Association of the ACT (MTA ACT) * Motor Traders Association of New South Wales (MTA NSW) * Motor Trades Association of the Northern Territory (MTA NT) * Motor Trade Association of South Australia (MTA SA) * Motor Trade Association of Western Australia (MTA WA) * National Institute of Accountants (NIA) * Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) * Service Station Association Ltd * Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce * Western Australian Dental Implant Society *