Review of Australian Contract Law

On the 22 March 2012, the Australian Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, announced a review into Australian Contract Law. The discussion paper released by the Government considers whether Australian contact law could be reformed to:

• enhance accessibility, certainty and simplicity
• set standards of conduct
• better support innovation and participation in the digital economy
• better meet of the evolving needs of businesses particularly small and medium businesses
• make the law more elastic to promote long-term relationships, and
• harmonise and internationalise contract law. 

I would personally like to see reform that would prevent exceptions to copyright law from being contracted away on a non commercial basis but I am not sure how I would work that argument into these areas. Other points to consider would be the complexities and liability arising from End User License Agreements, most of which are incomprehensible and rarely read.

If you would like more information about the review or would like to make a submission you can read more about it here - the review is open for a period of 3 months with submissions due 20 July 2012.

Further Information
Australian Attorney-General Department, Review of Australian Contract Law (22 March 2012) < http://www.ag.gov.au/Consultationsreformsandreviews/Pages/Review-of-Australian-Contract-Law.aspx > at 29 March 2012