Unit rationale, description and aim

This level four unit contributes to the development of:

  • advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in the field of Administrative Law
  • advanced, cognitive, technical and communication skills and the ability to apply these to complex Administrative law problems
  • advanced research and writing skills
This unit explains the rationale for consumer protection as well as the content and operation of the Australian Consumer Law (other than Part 2-1 and Part 3-1, Division 1) and certain related areas. Its focus is on the law relating to the protection of consumers and others from being exploited by persons in a dominant position (duress, undue influence, unfair contract terms and unconscionable conduct) unfair business practices, statutory protection in consumer transactions, product safety and consumer rights and remedies.

2025 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

LAWS104 Foundations of Law and Legal Research AND LAWS105 Contract Law

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Outline the theory and economics considerations re...

Learning Outcome 01

Outline the theory and economics considerations relating to consumer protection
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC8

Describe and critically evaluate the approach take...

Learning Outcome 02

Describe and critically evaluate the approach taken to consumer protection in Australia
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC7, GC8

Describe and critically evaluate the provisions of...

Learning Outcome 03

Describe and critically evaluate the provisions of the ACL dealing with abuse of a dominant position, unfair business practices, product safety, consumer guarantees, manufacturers' liability
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC8, GC11

Describe and critically evaluate the criminal prov...

Learning Outcome 04

Describe and critically evaluate the criminal provisions of the ACL and the rights and remedies of consumers
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC7, GC8

Content

Topics will include:  

 

  1. Why the need for consumer protection? 
  2. The limitations of the common law in relation to consumer protection 
  3. Misleading and Deceptive Conduct 
  4. Statutory Unconscionability. 
  5. Unfair Contract Terms 
  6. Consumer guarantees 
  7. Product safety  
  8. Consumer rights and remedies 

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment strategy is designed to assess knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law, and to develop research capacity.  

 

The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each of the learning outcomes listed.  

 

The number and weighting of the assessments has been approved in accordance with 5.2 of the ACU Assessment Policy. 

Overview of assessments

Research essay: Students to demonstrate their abi...

Research essay: Students to demonstrate their ability to research assigned topic and critically evaluate legal systems and laws

Weighting

50%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC7, GC8, GC11

Final Assignment: The Final Assignment requires s...

Final Assignment: The Final Assignment requires students to answer hypothetical problems and short answer questions that will be based on the material presented in lectures and tutorials.

Weighting

50%

Learning Outcomes LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC7, GC8, GC11

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Mode: Lectures, tutorials, electronic consultation, library tasks and presentations or Online lectures and activities.  

 

Duration: 3 hours per week over 12 weeks or equivalent.  Students are expected to spend 150 hours in total for this unit. 

 

This level four elective unit allows students to demonstrate knowledge, skills and understanding in a specialist area of law using more advanced research skills.  

 

Our strategy is to encourage students to creatively engage with unit content and to practice advanced research skills. 

 

The unit is designed to be delivered in intensive, weekly or online. We have taken a multimodal learning approach to provide accessibility and flexibility to our students and a student-focused approach that increases depth of learning and engagement through actively utilising Canvas.   

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Bruce, Alex, Consumer Protection in Australia (4 Ed, LexisNexis, 2022)

Coorey, Adrian, Australian Consumer Law - The Comprehensive Guide (Jurisprudentia, 2021)

Corones, Stephen, The Australian Consumer Law (5 Ed, Lawbook Co, 2023)

Erbackher, Sharon and Clarke, Philip, Australian Consumer Law: Commentary and Materials (Lawbook Co, 2022)

Lockhart, Colin, The Law of Misleading or Deceptive Conduct (LexisNexis, 2023)

Miller, Russell, Miller's Australian Competition and Consumer Law Annotated (Thomson Reuters, 2024)

Steinwall, Ray, Annotated Competition and Consumer Legislation (LexisNexis, 2024)

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