Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Measures No. 5) Act 2019 (15 of 2019)

Schedule 5   Small business access to justice

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

6   At the end of Division 2 of Part 5

Add:

91A Disclosure for the purposes of a no adverse costs order under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010

(1) This section applies if the relevant action in relation to which a person (the applicant ) requests the Ombudsman to give assistance is conduct, within the meaning of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, that:

(a) may be in contravention of a provision of Part IV of that Act; and

(b) affects, or may affect, a small business or family enterprise.

(2) A person assisting small business/family enterprise may disclose to the applicant any document or information obtained by the person assisting small business/family enterprise in the course of performing functions or duties, or exercising powers, in relation to assistance given to the applicant under section 74B.

Note: Section 74B allows the Ombudsman to give assistance in relation to a no adverse costs order in proceedings to recover the amount of any loss or damage as a result of contraventions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. This assistance may include advising the applicant on the arguments that might be made, and the evidence that might be adduced, in pursuing a no adverse costs order, and preparing arguments.

Competition and Consumer Act 2010