55Commissioner may begin or defend legal proceeding on

55 Commissioner may begin or defend legal proceeding on behalf of consumer (1) This section applies if a complaint or other matter involving a consumer is made or referred to the commissioner.

(2) The commissioner may, on behalf of the consumer and either alone or jointly, begin a legal proceeding against another person or defend a proceeding brought against the consumer for the purpose of enforcing or protecting the rights of the consumer in relation to an infringement, or suspected infringement, by that other person of— (a) those rights; or (b) a law in force in the Territory relating to the interests of consumers. (3) The commissioner must not begin or defend a proceeding under subsection (2) unless the commissioner is satisfied that— (a) the consumer has a cause of action or a good defence to the proceeding; or (b) it is otherwise in the public interest to do so.