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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Law and Justice

Pre-requisites

LAW00150 - Introduction to Business Law OR LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing

Unit aim

Introduce students to the laws relating to competition, marketing and consumer protection with particular reference to Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law.

Unit content

Part 1: Competition Law
Topic 1 Introduction to Competition and Consumer Law 
Topic 2 Applicability of the Act, key concepts and definitions 
Topic 3 Anti-competitive contracts, arrangements and understandings, cartels, & price fixing and signalling
Topic 4 Misuse of market power and exclusive dealing 
Topic 5 Resale price maintenance and arrangements that affect competition 
Topic 6 Penalties and fines
 
Part 2: Consumer Protection Law
Topic 7 Introduction to the consumer provisions & unconscionable conduct 
Topic 8 Misleading and deceptive conduct
Topic 9 False and misleading representations, & unfair practices
Topic 10 Consumer guarantees
Topic 11 Liability of retailers and manufacturers 
Topic 12 Remedies

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 identify and interpret the main provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) which relate to restrictive trade practices (Part IV of the Act);
2 identify and interpret the main provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) which relate to consumer protection law.
3 recognise those circumstances which give rise to the application of different sections of the Act.
4 apply the relevant provisions of the Act to determine whether a breach has occurred in given factual situations.
5 recognise provisions of the Act concerning authorisations and mergers.
6 explain the penalties and remedies that are available for breaches of the Act.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. identify and interpret the main provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) which relate to restrictive trade practices (Part IV of the Act);
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  2. identify and interpret the main provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) which relate to consumer protection law.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  3. recognise those circumstances which give rise to the application of different sections of the Act.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
  4. apply the relevant provisions of the Act to determine whether a breach has occurred in given factual situations.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  5. recognise provisions of the Act concerning authorisations and mergers.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  6. explain the penalties and remedies that are available for breaches of the Act.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:

Prescribed texts

  • Bruce, A, 2013, Australian Competition Law, 2nd edn, LexisNexis Butterworths. ISBN: 9780409332827.
  • Bruce, A, 2014, Consumer Protection Law in Australia, 2nd edn, LexisNexis Butterworths. ISBN: 9780409334005.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.