What it means
Consumer guarantees are a set of automatic protections under the Australian Consumer Law that apply to most goods and services bought in Australia. They include guarantees that goods are of acceptable quality, match their description, and are fit for purpose, and that services are provided with due care and skill. These rights apply regardless of any manufacturer's warranty and cannot be excluded by a business — a "no refunds" sign, for example, does not override them.
How it's used
When the new dishwasher stopped working after a month, the consumer guarantee entitled her to a repair, replacement or refund.