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Call for Submissions

Submissions closed on Friday, 17 January 2014.

Objectives of the Bill

The policy objectives of the Bill are to:

1. address inconsistencies, harmonise, and consolidate inspectorate provisions contained in a number of Acts about fair trading
2. improve enforcement and compliance activities relating to fair trading legislation through harmonised and consolidated inspectorate provisions
3. provide a flexible legislative framework which enables additional Acts dealing with fair trading to be added to the scope of the Bill in the future
4. repeal the inspectorate provisions contained in particular Acts about fair trading and make consequential amendments.

While the Bill primarily represents a considerable red tape reduction measure of an internal, administrative nature, the Bill is expected to benefit businesses and consumers through increased transparency and more consistent enforcement practices.

Other Information

The Fair Trading Inspectors Bill 2013 and Explanatory Notes are available from the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel at www.legislation.qld.gov.au.

The Hansard transcript of the introductory speech for the Bill can be accessed here.

Public Briefing

The Committee held a public briefing on this Bill, and a number of other Bills, with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General at Parliament House, Brisbane on Thursday 12 December 2013.

The briefing was broadcast live on the Queensland Parliament website.

Copies of the final transcript can be accessed here or at Related Publications.

Public Hearing

The Committee held a public hearing on this Bill, and a number of other Bills, with invited witnesses at Parliament House, Brisbane on Thursday 6 February 2014.  The hearing was broadcast live on the Queensland Parliament website

A copy of the schedule can be accessed here.

Copies of the transcript can be accessed at Related Publications.

Reasons for the Bill

Further information, including the reasons for the Bill, appear in the Explanatory Notes which can be viewed here.

Referral

On 20 November 2013 the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP, introduced the Fair Trading Inspectors Bill 2013 into the Queensland Parliament.  In accordance with Standing Order 131 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (the Committee) for detailed consideration.

By motion of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly, the Committee is required to report to the Parliament by 24 February 2014.

Report

On 24 February 2014, the Committee tabled its Report No. 55, Fair Trading Inspectors Bill 2013. A copy of the report is available here or can be accessed at Related Publications.

The Government tabled its response to the Committee's report on 6 March 2013. A copy of the Government Response is available here or can be accessed at Related Publications.

The Fair Trading Inspectors Bill 2013 was passed, with amendment, by the Legislative Assembly on 6 March 2014.