Cover image for Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading
Agency:
Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading
Agency Number:
Start Date:
24 Nov 1999
End Date:
01 Jul 2015
Description:
Created by amalgamating the Office of Consumer Affairs and the Business Affairs Office. The name was in use in January 1999 though the legislation that created the Office did not receive Royal Assent until November. The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages was added in 2004. The Measurement and Standards Branch became a Commonwealth agency called the National Measurement Institute in 2010. The functions of the Office were set out in section 11 of the Consumer Affairs Act 1988. These include to investigate complaints from consumers and take such action as seems appropriate, and consult with and share information relating to consumers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, advertisers, and any other suppliers of goods or services. In addition, the office also provided administrative support to the Rental Deposit Authority (RDA), the Residential Tenancy Commissioner (RTC) and the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs. The Office merged with the Building Standards and Occupational Licensing Branch on 1 July 2015 to become Consumer Building and Occupational Services (CBOS).
Information Sources:
Department of Justice website 2016, Department of Justice annual report 2015-16
Legislation Administered:
Administrative Arrangement Orders.
Legislation Creating:
Consumer Affairs Act 1988 as amended by the Justice Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1999.
Legislation Abolishing Agency:
Administrative action.
Controlled Agencies:
Rental Services (TA2142)01 Jan 2009
Previous Agencies:
Business Affairs Office (TA1537)01 Jan 199131 Dec 2001

Office of Consumer Affairs (TA682)14 Dec 198824 Nov 1999