What are class action lawsuits and are they common in Australia?

The A2 milk company is facing several class actions over allegations that include it engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct. Photograph: Paul Miller/AAP

In the just over 30 years since Australians have been able to take class action suits, the country has become one of the world’s liveliest jurisdictions.

After the US, Australia is one of the biggest markets in the world for class actions with well over 130 representative proceedings before the courts.