Overview
Australian Consumer Law examines the key concepts and principles of Australian Consumer Law. You will examine the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and analyse case law interpreting and applying the legislation. You will also examine the role of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in regulating the conduct of consumer law ensuring the rights and responsibilities of business and individuals. Current issues and recent case law regarding consumer law will provide you with an understanding of how the legislation is applied.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-Requisite: 48 credit points of law units
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2022
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback to the UC
UC informed students before the commencement of term and on Moodle that the unit would be delivered via intensive mode so students were able to manage the unit in addition to other units.
It is suggested the unit profile is amended to state the unit is delivered via intensive mode.
Feedback from Student feedback to the UC
Intensive format enabled students to focus on the unit and when they completed all assessment tasks, to then focus on other units with assessment tasks due in the later half of term 1.
Continue to deliver the unit via intensive mode.
Feedback from Student feedback to the UC
Unit materials, podcasts and zoom sessions were up to date and well structured.
The UC will continue to update the unit materials in preparation for the next offering in term 1 2022.
Feedback from Student feedback to the UC
The topics were delivered as modules and students could focus on a module at their own pace before moving onto the next module.
The UC will continue to deliver the unit notes, podcasts and zoom sessions in a module format.
Feedback from Student feedback to the UC
All materials were made available to students two weeks before the term commenced for students who wished to get a head start on their study.
The UC will continue to deliver all materials for students two weeks before the term commences.
- Explain the rationale for, and implementation of, consumer law policy in the Australian economy and society
- Demonstrate proficient legal research skills to locate legislation and case law relevant to consumer law
- Identify, apply and critically evaluate legislation and case law to a practical consumer law problem.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
Consumer Protection Law in Australia
- 3rd Edition (2019)
- Authors: Alex Bruce
- Lexis Nexis
- Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
- ISBN: 9780409343847
- Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- ZOOM
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Docs
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.corbett-jarvis@cqu.edu.au
a.kullack@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022Module/Topic
Introduction to Consumer Law
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Workshop One
Week 2
Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022Module/Topic
General Consumer Protections
- Misleading or deceptive conduct
Chapter
Chapter 3 & 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Workshop Two
Week 3
Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022Module/Topic
General Consumer Protections
- Unconscionable conduct
- Unfair Contract Terms
Chapter
Chapter 5 & 6
Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Workshop Three
Week 4
Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022Module/Topic
Specific Consumer Protections
- Specific False or Misleading Representations
- Consumer Guarantees
Chapter
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Workshop Four
Problem Scenario Due: Week 4 Friday (1 Apr 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 5
Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022Module/Topic
Public and Private Enforcement, Orders and Remedies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Workshop Five
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022Module/Topic
Self guided learning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022Module/Topic
Self guided learning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 02 May 2022Module/Topic
Final Take Home Paper Due
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 09 May 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 16 May 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 23 May 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 30 May 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Students will be presented with a factual scenario and will be required to answer two (2) questions based on the scenario. Answers should be prepared in the form of advice to a client.
Students will be required to undertake research of legislation and case law and apply this research to support their legal argument and conclusion. Citations should be used where relevant and must comply with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation.
Each question has a weighting of 20% and Assessment 1 has a combined weighting of 40%.
Week 4 Friday (1 Apr 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
To be uploaded as a word document via the Assessment 1 upload link on Moodle.
Week 6 Friday (22 Apr 2022)
Grade and feedback will be returned on Moodle when all students in this unit have completed the assessment task.
The Problem Scenario assesses your ability to:
- Identify legal and factual issues;
- Interpret and apply the law to the issues arising in the scenario;
- Explain the significance of relevant legislation;
- Use suitable authorities in support of discussions;
- Provide practical advice;
- Use concise, clear and grammatically correct language; and
- Research and reference.
- Explain the rationale for, and implementation of, consumer law policy in the Australian economy and society
- Demonstrate proficient legal research skills to locate legislation and case law relevant to consumer law
- Identify, apply and critically evaluate legislation and case law to a practical consumer law problem.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
The Final Take Home Paper will be released on Moodle in Week 8.
The assessment will comprise problem scenarios requiring legal argument based on legislation and case law.
Students must upload their answers via Moodle in a Word document.
This assessment task must be completed by the due date and time. Exam conditions apply to ALL take home papers.
Submissions after the deadline has passed will not be accepted. Extensions are not available for this assessment. Failure to submit by the deadline will result in a mark of zero for this assessment as the paper will not be marked.
Week 8 Friday (6 May 2022) 2:00 pm AEST
To be uploaded as a word document via the Assessment 2 upload link on Moodle.
The final take home paper is considered an examination and may be returned to students. An examiner's feedback report will be released on Moodle.
The Take Home Assessment assesses your ability to:
- Identify legal and factual issues;
- Interpret and apply the law to factual scenarios;
- Use suitable authorities in support of discussions;
- Use concise, clear and grammatically correct language; and
- Research and reference.
- Explain the rationale for, and implementation of, consumer law policy in the Australian economy and society
- Demonstrate proficient legal research skills to locate legislation and case law relevant to consumer law
- Identify, apply and critically evaluate legislation and case law to a practical consumer law problem.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
