Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory Government
Office of Regulatory Services
The Office of Regulatory Services regulates many industries, occupations and activities that cover a wide range of businesses, single traders and employees in the ACT. There are seven business streams within the ORS which include Fair Trading, Work Safety, Rental Bonds, Land Titles, Parking, Business and Industry Licensing, and Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Federal
Commonwealth Government
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
The ACCC promotes competition and fair trade in the marketplace to benefit consumers, businesses and the community. It also regulates national infrastructure services. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that individuals and businesses comply with national consumer protection laws.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Ensures fair play in business, protects investors and consumers, prevents corporate crime and helps Australia’s business reputation. Formerly called the Australian Securities Commission.
Commonwealth Ombudsman – Australia
Investigates complaints about Commonwealth government departments’ and agencies’ (including Australia Post) actions to see if they are unlawful, wrong, unjust or discriminatory.
The Treasury
The Treasury provides advice to the Government on Australia’s consumer policy framework (including the consumer law provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974), and promotes competitive, efficient, well informed and safe markets that enhance the welfare of Australian consumers.
ipaustralia
Responsible for granting rights in patents, trademarks and designs in Australia.
National Competition Council
The Council administers some aspects of the National Competition Policy (NCP) reforms, assesses governments’ progress in implementing the reforms, advises on areas where more work is needed and provides public information on the NCP process generally.
National Consumer Credit Code
In response to business and consumer concerns, the Consumer Credit Code was developed as a national initiative to standardise credit practice in Australia.
National Measurement Institute
The National Measurement Institute (NMI) is responsible for Australia's national infrastructure in physical, chemical, biological and legal measurements. NMI is responsible for coordinating Australia’s national measurement system, and for establishing, maintaining and realising Australia’s units and standards of measurement. This allows Australian industry to operate competitively in a global environment.
Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner
Their purpose is to promote an Australian culture that respects privacy. The Office has responsibilities under the federal Privacy Act 1988 and provides information to individuals about their privacy rights. The office provides guidance to Commonwealth and ACT government agencies, credit providers, credit reporting agencies, and private sector organisations, on how to comply with the Privacy Act and related legislation. The Office also issues guidelines to promote best practice in privacy standards and principles, investigates complaints, and conducts audits.
Postal Industry Ombudsman
The Postal Industry Ombudsman (PIO) is an independent body that investigates complaints about the postal industry. The PIO investigates complaints about any postal operators that register with the scheme. Registration is voluntary. Currently, the Office of Fair Trading handles complaints about NSW postal operators and will continue to look at complaints about postal operators who do not register with the PIO.
Product Recalls Australia
Provides up-to-date information to consumers about product recalls and allows information to be shared between regulators. Co-ordinated by the Consumer Affairs Division of the Department of Treasury.
Product Safety Australia
Is a national website co-ordinated by the ACCC providing up-to-date information to consumers and businesses about product safety regulations, recalls, bans and standards.
New South Wales
Connecting NSW
NSW Government home page.
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
Exposes and minimises corruption in the NSW public sector through investigation, corruption prevention and education. This site is part of the ICAC’s educational role. The information here is particularly relevant to those working in or dealing with the NSW public sector.
Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART)
Sets maximum prices and undertakes pricing reviews of monopoly services supplied by NSW government agencies. IPART also:
- regulates natural gas pricing
- third party access to gas networks
- undertakes general reviews of industry, pricing or competition
- registers agreements for access to public infrastructure assets
- arbitrates disputes about such agreements.
LawAccess Online
Provides quick and easy access to plain language legal information (including resources in community languages) and related assistance services in NSW. A legal topic index can be used to find resources on different areas of the law such as family law, drink driving and domestic violence. Resources can be searched by language, keyword and other methods.
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
The NCAT provides inexpensive and effective dispute resolution to resolve consumer, trader and tenancy disputes in New South Wales and is able to issue enforceable orders.
NSW Industrial Relations
www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au
The office provides information about industrial relations issues such as award wages and working conditions.
NSW Supreme, District and Local Court Online Registry
onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
Registered users can file and pay online for NSW Supreme, District and Local Court forms, track case progress, view and download filed documents, check judgments and orders and more.
SafeWork NSW
SafeWork NSW manages the state’s workplace safety, injury management, and workers compensation systems.
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Government
Department of Business and Employment
DBE is a combination of parts of the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development, The Employment Division of the Department of Employment, Education and Training, and all of the Department of Corporate and Information Services.
Department of Justice
www.nt.gov.au/justice/consaffairs/
Consumer Affairs is a part of the Department of Justice and aims to promote and regulate responsible business conduct through administration of a regulatory system that protects consumer interests.
Queensland
Queensland Government
Queensland Building and Construction Commission
Regulates the state’s residential construction industry, licenses builders and trade contractors, and provides consumers with support, advice and protection in the form of a statutory insurance scheme.
Residential Tenancies Authority
Office of Fair Trading
Contains consumer and business related information. Topics include refunds, lay-bys, credit and safety. Many licensing and application forms can be downloaded. Online complaints accepted.
Department of Education, Training and the Arts
Contains information about occupational licensing, training, mutual recognition and skills development across Australia.
South Australia
South Australia Central
Department of Trade and Economic Development
This site has information for living, working, innovating and doing business in South Australia.
Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
This site covers consumer affairs, customer and educational services, business and occupational services, tenancies and births, deaths and marriages.
Tasmania
Tasmania online
Government Prices Oversight Commission
The Commission is an independent body that investigates the pricing policies of Tasmanian Government monopolies and reviews complaints of unfair government competition with the private sector.
Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading
A division of the Department of Justice and Industrial Relations. Provides advice and information on matters affecting the interests of consumers. It investigates complaints regarding potential breaches of legislation and enforces product safety standards.
Victoria
Victoria Online
State Government of Victoria
Business Victoria
Provides business information and referral services to facilitate the growth of an efficient and viable small business sector in Victoria.
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) protects and promotes the interests of consumers. CAV provides advice and assistance on matters of renting and accommodation, estate agents, building, shopping, credit and trading. CAV also licenses or registers and regulates:
- credit providers
- estate agents
- introduction agents
- motor car traders
- prostitution service providers
- travel agents
- second-hand dealers
- pawnbrokers
- hoteliers
- restaurateurs and operators of other businesses involved in selling liquor
Western Australia
Government of Western Australia
Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce works with the community to ensure high standards of safety and protection for workers and consumers, and promotes and fosters innovative industries, science and enterprise and Aboriginal economic development.
Small Business Development Corporation
Provides independent guidance and information to existing and intending small business owners through innovative programs to assist small business.