government agencies

This page points to Australian and overseas government agencies with an interest in online consumer issues.

     Australian advice and contact points

In the second half of 2000 the Commonwealth government launched Consumers Online, a 'one-stop-shop' "promoting consumer sovereignty", albeit the sovereignty enjoyed by one of the smaller and less powerful third world nations.  

The site includes links to miscellaneous federal and state consumer documents and sites (eg bag checking in Tasmania), "stuff for kids", online leaflets, lists of banned goods, statements of principle and pointers to consumer sites such as the Financial Services Consumer Policy Centre.  

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) is online. 

Most Australian states/territories have consumer affairs or fair trading offices -

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Western Australia

     other Australian agencies 

The federal Treasury Department has a small set of pointers to e-commerce and consumer affairs sites and documents.

The National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) and Department of Communications, Information Technology & the Arts (DCITA) also offer access to government online consumer issues policy documents and guidelines.

     international 

As we noted earlier in this guide, during 1999 the international Organisation for Economic Co-Operation & Development (OECD) adopted Guidelines for consumer protection in online commerce. 

Past practice suggests those guidelines will be progressively adopted by all major economies, generally through national legislation. They're a building block for the International Marketing Supervision Network (IMSN), the network of government organizations involved in the enforcement of fair trade practice laws and other consumer protection activities.

An overview of international initiatives for consumer protection in the electronic marketplace is provided by the August 1999 report for the Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC).

     US 

The federal government has established a Consumer Gateway (CG). It's primarily an information site drawing on the activities of numerous agencies.

Perspectives on Consumer Protection in the Global Electronic Marketplace were provided mid-year by a major conference under the auspices of the Federal Trade Commission. 

The Advisory Committee on Online Access & Security (ACOAS) of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported on consumer access to information collected by commercial websites and the security of that information. 

     Canada

Canada's Federal Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) deals with consumer questions at the national level. Most provinces have similar agencies.

     EU

The European Commission's Directorate XXIV is responsible for Consumer Policy & Consumer Health Protection.

Most EU member states have consumer affairs ministries and agencies at the national level.

     New Zealand  

The New Zealand Commerce Commission (CoCom) and Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MCA) deal with consumer issues.



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