Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2015B00109
Timestamp: 2017-08-17 13:51:30
Document Index: 616723888

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 22', 'art 2', 'arts 5', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1']

Details: C2015B00109
- C2015B00109
A Bill for an Act to amend legislation to extend unfair contract protections to small business contracts, and for other purposes
C2015B00109
This Act may be cited as the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Act 2015.
1 Subsection 12BA(1) (paragraph (b) of the definition of non‑party consumer)
Omit “consumer”.
2 Subsection 12BA(1) (definition of rely on)
After “consumer contract”, insert “or small business contract”.
small business contract has the meaning given by subsection 12BF(4).
standard form contract has a meaning affected by section 12BK.
4 Subsection 12BA(1) (definition of transparent)
5 Subsection 12BA(1) (definition of unfair)
6 Section 12BF (heading)
12BF Unfair terms of consumer contracts and small business contracts
7 Subsection 12BF(1)
8 At the end of section 12BF
9 Subsections 12BG(1), (2) and (4) and 12BH(1)
10 After paragraph 12BH(2)(a)
(aa) the detriment that a term of that kind would cause to businesses employing fewer than 20 persons; and
11 Section 12BI (heading)
12BI Terms that define main subject matter of consumer contracts or small business contracts etc. are unaffected
12 Subsection 12BI(1)
13 Subsections 12BI(2) and (3)
Omit “consumer contract referred to in subsection 12BF(1)”, substitute “contract”.
14 Section 12BL
12BL Contracts to which this Subdivision does not apply
(1) This Subdivision does not apply to a contract that is the constitution of a company, managed investment scheme or other kind of body.
(2) This Subdivision does not apply to a small business contract to which a prescribed law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory applies.
(3) Before the Governor‑General makes a regulation prescribing a law for the purposes of subsection (2):
(a) the Minister must be satisfied that the law provides enforceable protections for businesses employing fewer than 20 persons that are equivalent to the protections provided by this Subdivision together with Subdivision G; and
(b) the Minister must take into consideration:
(i) any detriment to businesses of that kind resulting from prescribing the law; and
(ii) the impact on business generally resulting from prescribing the law; and
(iii) the public interest.
15 Subsections 12GD(9), 12GM(10) and 12GN(9)
16 Subparagraph 12GNB(1)(a)(ii)
17 Section 12GND
(1) The Court may declare that a term of a consumer contract is an unfair term, on application by:
(a) a party to the contract; or
(2) The Court may declare that a term of a small business contract is an unfair term, on application by:
(a) a party to the contract, if the party was a business of the kind referred to in paragraph 12BF(4)(a) at the time the contract was entered into; or
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply unless the contract is a standard form contract that is:
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if Subdivision BA does not apply to the contract.
(5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not limit any other power of the Court to make declarations.
Part 22—Application provision relating to the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Act 2015
(1) The amendments made by Schedule 1 to the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Act 2015 apply in relation to a contract entered into on or after the commencement of that Schedule.
(2) The amendments do not apply to a contract entered into before the commencement of that Schedule. However:
(a) if the contract is renewed on or after that commencement—the amendments apply to the contract as renewed, on and from the day (the renewal day) on which the renewal takes effect, in relation to conduct that occurs on or after the renewal day; or
(b) if a term of the contract is varied on or after that commencement and paragraph (a) has not already applied in relation to the contract—the amendments apply to the term as varied, on and from the day (the variation day) on which the variation takes effect, in relation to conduct that occurs on and after the variation day.
(3) If paragraph (2)(b) of this section applies to a term of a contract, subsection 12BF(2) and section 12BK of this Act apply to the contract.
(4) Despite paragraphs (2)(a) and (b) and subsection (3) of this section, the amendments do not apply to a contract, or a term of a contract, to the extent that the operation of the amendments would result in an acquisition of property (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution) from a person otherwise than on just terms (within the meaning of that paragraph of the Constitution).
19 Paragraph 137D(b)
20 Subparagraphs 137F(2)(b)(ii) and (d)(ii)
21 Subsection 139G(2)
22 After paragraph 139G(2)(a)
23 After subsection 139G(2)
(2A) Before the Governor‑General makes a regulation prescribing a law for the purposes of subsection 28(4) of Schedule 2:
(a) the Commonwealth Minister must be satisfied that the law provides enforceable protections for businesses employing fewer than 20 persons that are equivalent to the protections provided by Part 2‑3, together with Parts 5‑1 and 5‑2, of Schedule 2; and
(b) the Commonwealth Minister must take into consideration:
24 Subsection 2(1) of Schedule 2 (paragraph (b) of the definition of non‑party consumer)
25 Subsection 2(1) of Schedule 2 (definition of rely on)
26 Subsection 2(1) of Schedule 2
small business contract: see subsection 23(4).
standard form contract has a meaning affected by section 27.
27 Subsection 2(1) of Schedule 2 (paragraph (b) of the definition of transparent)
28 Subsection 2(1) of Schedule 2 (definition of unfair)
29 Section 23 of Schedule 2 (heading)
23 Unfair terms of consumer contracts and small business contracts
30 Subsection 23(1) of Schedule 2
31 At the end of section 23 of Schedule 2
(a) the contract is for a supply of goods or services, or a sale or grant of an interest in land; and
(b) at the time the contract is entered into, at least one party to the contract is a business that employs fewer than 20 persons; and
(5) In counting the persons employed by a business for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), a casual employee is not to be counted unless he or she is employed by the business on a regular and systematic basis.
32 Subsection 24(1) of Schedule 2
33 Subsections 24(2) and (4) of Schedule 2
34 Subsection 25(1) of Schedule 2
35 Subsection 25(1) of Schedule 2
36 Subsection 25(2) of Schedule 2
37 Section 26 of Schedule 2 (heading)
26 Terms that define main subject matter of consumer contracts or small business contracts etc. are unaffected
38 Subsection 26(1) of Schedule 2
39 Subsection 26(2) of Schedule 2
40 At the end of section 28 of Schedule 2
(4) This Part does not apply to a small business contract to which a prescribed law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory applies.
41 Subsection 232(3) of Schedule 2
42 Subparagraph 237(1)(a)(ii) of Schedule 2
43 Paragraph 238(1)(b) of Schedule 2
44 Subparagraph 239(1)(a)(ii) of Schedule 2
45 Subsection 242(1) of Schedule 2
46 Section 250 of Schedule 2
250 Declarations relating to consumer contracts and small business contracts
(a) a party to the contract, if the party was a business of the kind referred to in paragraph 23(4)(b) at the time the contract was entered into; or
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply unless the contract is a standard form contract.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if Part 2‑3 does not apply to the contract.
47 After Part 1 of Chapter 6 of Schedule 2
Part 1A—Application provision relating to the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Act 2015
290A Application
(3) If paragraph (2)(b) of this section applies to a term of a contract, subsection 23(2) and section 27 apply to the contract.