ABSTRACT
On 9 August 2005, the Australian Government's Productivity Commission (PC) released its 434-page Discussion Draf entitled Review of the Australian Consumer Product Safety System. Comparing the ongoing process and the ultimate outcomes of Australia's review of consumer product safety regulation provides fertile ground for understanding how consumer law, and legislation generally, is fashioned nowadays in advanced democratic economies. The preliminary assessment by the PC did not propose such far-reaching changes, although it already favoured important improvements to Australia's regulatory regime for the safety of general consumer goods. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business interests had continued to stress the federal government's professed commitment to lighter regulation. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is responsible for enforcing product safety regulations, and advising government about what regulations are needed and what form they should take.
