1 For a brief history of consumer policy in Australia, see S Hally-Burton, S Shirodkar, S Winckler and S Writer (2008) Demand: Australian Consumer Policy 4 Economic Roundup 91, Australian Government, Canberra (www.treasury.gov.au/contentitem.asp?NavId=&ContentID=1451). The Act will also introduce a new set of enforcement powers that generally exist at the state and territory level, but which, for the first time, are becoming consistent and are being used by all Australian consumer protection authorities. These include the possibility offered by the Australian Consumer Protection Act of a new approach to consumer policy, based on .B wide range of consumer policy and enforcement experiences and expertise. We can introduce a consistent approach to consumer law and consumer policy that allows all Australian consumers to enjoy uniform rights wherever they are and allows all Australian businesses to achieve greater efficiencies through a single simplified national law. In this way, it will improve the well-being of all Australians. Over the past year, consumer policy representatives have conducted a detailed review of consumer protection legislation to ensure that Australian consumer legislation can contain provisions that improve its functioning, taking into account the considerable experience of states and territories in policy development and implementation. The work of NEIAT and CCAAC is a model for consumer policy: by inserting their development within the framework of a detailed empirical and general policy; Examining the nature and impact of market issues; and enabling policy makers to identify and address real consumer problems, not consumer perceptions. 10 See MCCA (2008) Release – August 15, 2008 on www.consumer.gov.au/html/download/MCCA_Meetings/Meeting_20_15_Aug_08.pdf. Once this legislative procedure is completed at the national level – which I hope will be the case by mid-2010 – each state and territory will pass an application law that will make Australian consumer law a law of that jurisdiction and repeal its own general consumer laws. The ACL applies nationally and in all states and territories, as well as to all Australian businesses.