Business Law Library & Tracker
Main Australian Business Laws
Start with the main Acts, codes and regulations that shape everyday business decisions. Amendment Acts, specialist instruments and narrow source records are handled as updates or supporting material instead of cluttering this view.
Sources last reviewed 8 June 2026
Main law guides
297
Acts, regulations and codes worth reading first
Topics
22
Plain-English clusters
Published case explainers
496
Selected cases with a business lesson
Tracked updates
110
New, amended & reviewed
Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.
Get legal helpMain lawVictoria
Motor Car Traders Act 1986 (Vic)
Motor Car Traders Act 1986 (Vic)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawQueensland
Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014 (Qld)
Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014 (Qld)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawNew South Wales
Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 (NSW)
Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 (NSW)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawWestern Australia
Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 (WA)
Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 (WA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawWestern Australia
Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003 (WA)
Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003 (WA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawTasmania
Motor Vehicle Traders Act 2011 (Tas)
Motor Vehicle Traders Act 2011 (Tas)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawCommonwealth
Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (Cth)
Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (Cth)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawACT
Sale of Motor Vehicles Act 1977 (ACT)
Sale of Motor Vehicles Act 1977 (ACT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawSouth Australia
Second-hand Vehicle Dealers Act 1995 (SA)
Second-hand Vehicle Dealers Act 1995 (SA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawCommonwealth
Spam Act 2003
Spam Act 2003 (Cth)
PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 29 May 2026
Privacy & DataConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawNew South Wales
Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008 (NSW)
Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008 (NSW)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawTasmania
Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2010 (Tas)
Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2010 (Tas)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawVictoria
Dangerous Goods Act 1985 (Vic)
Dangerous Goods Act 1985 (Vic)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawNorthern Territory
Dangerous Goods Act 1998 (NT)
Dangerous Goods Act 1998 (NT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawWestern Australia
Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 (WA)
Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 (WA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawSouth Australia
Dangerous Substances Act 1979 (SA)
Dangerous Substances Act 1979 (SA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawACT
Dangerous Substances Act 2004 (ACT)
Dangerous Substances Act 2004 (ACT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawQueensland
Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNorthern Territory
Electrical Safety Act 2022 (NT)
Electrical Safety Act 2022 (NT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNew South Wales
Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 (NSW)
Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 (NSW)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawWestern Australia
Electricity Act 1945 (WA)
Electricity Act 1945 (WA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawVictoria
Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Vic)
Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Vic)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawVictoria
Gas Safety Act 1997 (Vic)
Gas Safety Act 1997 (Vic)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawWestern Australia
Gas Standards Act 1972 (WA)
Gas Standards Act 1972 (WA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawCommonwealth
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth)
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialEmployment & WorkplaceConsumer Law & TradingDigital & Ecommerce
Main lawTasmania
Occupational Licensing Act 2005 (Tas)
Occupational Licensing Act 2005 (Tas)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNorthern Territory
Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (NT)
Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (NT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawWestern Australia
Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 (WA)
Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 (WA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawSouth Australia
Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (SA)
Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (SA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNew South Wales
Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 (NSW)
Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 (NSW)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawQueensland
Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld)
Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawQueensland
Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Dangerous Goods) Regulation 2018 (Qld)
Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Dangerous Goods) Regulation 2018 (Qld)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Environment, Waste & PollutionConstruction & TradesFood & Product ComplianceEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawACT
Utilities (Technical Regulation) Act 2014 (ACT)
Utilities (Technical Regulation) Act 2014 (ACT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawCommonwealth
Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Discrimination & AccessibilityEmployment & WorkplaceConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawACT
Agents Act 2003 (ACT)
Agents Act 2003 (ACT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Commercial Leases & PropertyFranchising & Regulated IndustriesConsumer Law & TradingContracts & Commercial
Main lawNorthern Territory
Agents Licensing Act 1979 (NT)
Agents Licensing Act 1979 (NT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Commercial Leases & PropertyFranchising & Regulated IndustriesConsumer Law & TradingContracts & Commercial
CodeCommonwealth
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practices and General Requirements
PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Food & Product ComplianceConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawNorthern Territory
Building Act 1993 (NT)
Building Act 1993 (NT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawVictoria
Building Act 1993 (Vic)
Building Act 1993 (Vic)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawTasmania
Building Act 2016 (Tas)
Building Act 2016 (Tas)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawWestern Australia
Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (WA)
Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (WA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawSouth Australia
Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA)
Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawCommonwealth
Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cth)
Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cth)
PriorityIn force10 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Business Registration & OperationsCompanies & StartupsIP & Brand Protection
Main lawNorthern Territory
Commercial Passenger (Road) Transport Act 1991 (NT)
Commercial Passenger (Road) Transport Act 1991 (NT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesConsumer Law & TradingContracts & CommercialEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsDigital & Ecommerce
Main lawVictoria
Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act 2017 (Vic)
Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act 2017 (Vic)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesConsumer Law & TradingContracts & CommercialEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsDigital & Ecommerce
Main lawACT
Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT)
Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawCommonwealth
Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (Cth)
Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (Cth)
PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingDigital & EcommerceFinance, Payments & Security
Main lawSouth Australia
Electronic Communications Act 2000 (SA), formerly Electronic Transactions Act 2000
Electronic Communications Act 2000 (SA), formerly Electronic Transactions Act 2000
PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Digital & EcommerceBusiness Registration & Operations