10th Aug 2017, 10:51 AM – Senate Competition and Consumer Legislation Amendment (Small Business Access to Justice) Bill 2017 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea

The majority voted in favour of a motion to read the bill for a second time. In other words, they agreed with the main idea of the bill and can now discuss it in more detail.

Main idea of the bill

According to the bill homepage, the bill:

Amends the: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015 to: allow the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman to provide assistance in advising and preparing a person’s case for a no adverse costs order in proceedings in relation to contraventions of Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010; and require the number of requests for assistance in relation to an application for a no adverse costs order to be included in the Ombudsman’s annual report; and Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to: allow for a no adverse costs order to be sought, at any time during proceedings, by a person bringing an action in relation to loss or damage by conduct of another person that was done in contravention of Part IV of the Act; and specify the circumstances in which the court is able to make a no adverse costs order.