Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter and Central Coast, Scot MacDonald, said the Fair Trading Legislation Amendment (Consumer Guarantee Directions) Bill 2018 passed NSW Parliament this week, granting new powers to Fair Trading.

“The government’s reforms will give the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner the power to direct a business to repair, replace or refund a good,” Mr MacDonald said.

“This means fair, quick and cheap resolutions for consumers and businesses, and will be an alternative to the often costly process of courts and tribunals.”

Mr MacDonald said consumers were often confused about their rights. Disputes still account for more than 20 per cent of legal problems experienced by people in NSW.

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The 2016 Australian Consumer Survey also found 76 per cent of people reported a problem within the first six months of purchasing a good.

“Ideally, consumers and businesses work together to resolve issues directly; however, when this fails, Fair Trading works with them to help solve the problem,” he said.

“If a resolution is still not possible, rather than the case going to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or being dropped, consumers can now seek a direction that the trader repair, replace or refund the good.”

The Commissioner’s power to make directions will be focused on goods worth between $25 and $3,000, with the reforms taking effect from January 1, 2019.

To be eligible for a consumer guarantee direction, cases must meet certain criteria.

For more information on the criteria, visit fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/buying-products-and-services