The Issue

What is this about?

The Better Business Reforms aim to create opportunities for small businesses by reducing costs and complexity without reducing consumer protections. The reforms also increase transparency and protections in consumer transactions without overly burdening businesses.

The package of reforms include extending licence periods, making it easier for tradespeople to get the qualifications they need to work in the motor vehicle industry, and requiring businesses to be upfront and clear about any terms and conditions that could significantly impact customers.

A small number of the reforms require further consultation before they are finalised and implemented.

There are more than 40 reforms in the Better Business Reforms package, most of which are contained in the Fair Trading Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2018 (the Better Business Reforms Bill 1), and the Fair Trading Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2018 (the Better Business Reforms Bill 2).

Some of the reforms included in the Better Business Reforms Bill 1 started on 31 October 2018. More information on these is on the Better Business Reforms page.

Other reforms require additional legislation, administrative and system changes before they can be implemented. In many cases, it is expected this will be completed over the next 12 to 18 months.

What has happened so far?

The reforms are the culmination of a comprehensive review of legislation in the Better Regulation portfolio, in consultation with business and the wider community.

In August 2018, the NSW government released the Easy and Transparent Trading (PDF, 1073.07 KB) consultation paper. Feedback was sought on an extensive set of consumer and small business reforms designed to cut red tape while improving consumer protection.

The Better Business Reforms are the result of this consultation process. These reforms have passed parliament and are set to be implemented as soon as possible.

The purpose of the Better Business Reforms Implementation Options Paper is to provide more detailed information about some of the reforms and to set out options for consideration.

What are the changes?

• Disclosure of key terms by a trader when providing goods or services to consumers
• Disclosure of commissions and referral fees by a trader when providing or referring goods or services to consumers
• Streamlining and harmonisation of the uncollected goods requirements
• Owners corporations to have a choice of utilities supply agreements in strata complexes
• Repeal of the Innkeepers Act 1968
• Repeal of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1899

Next steps

All submissions received will be acknowledged. Once the consultation period has closed, feedback will be analysed and all potential options assessed. More information about the progress of the implementation of the Better Business Reforms package will be made available on the Fair Trading website.