In the course of administering NSW’s fair trading laws, the Office of Fair Trading may be required to take enforcement action against individuals, or businesses that contravene those laws. Enforcement action is designed to stop unlawful conduct, reduce the likelihood of its recurrence, act as a deterrent and where appropriate, reverse its effect through actions such as corrective advertising or compensation.

The enforcement action report released by the Office of Fair Trading includes public information available through the courts as well as information on public registers administered by the Office of Fair Trading. Matters subject to appeal are not included. The enforcement actions listed may include:

• convictions resulting from prosecution in a court
• statistical information on penalty notices issued by the Office of Fair Trading
• disciplinary determinations – including results of proceedings in the Administrative Decisions Tribunal
• injunctions resulting from civil proceedings in the Supreme Court.