ABORIGINAL PROTECTION

222 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (21 October 2008). What liaison has been undertaken between the department and the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs to ensure that the Aboriginal people have protection under the Fair Trading Act and are translated financial services contracts now available?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management): Consumer protection and education is principally the responsibility of the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA). The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) has liaised with, or worked alongside OCBA on some specific issues and the general education of Aboriginal people regarding their rights as consumers under the Fair Trading Act.

Both agencies are represented on a Working Party that is exploring initiatives to address the exploitative supply and sale of motor vehicles including differential pricing, overpriced and unroadworthy cars and unlicensed dealing to Anangu. OCBA is the lead agency for this initiative that has been identified as one of the 8 key priorities in the National Indigenous Consumer Strategy.

DPC is aware that, as part of the Mai Wiru Stores Policy, OCBA visited the stores on the APY Lands and provided training to the store managers on their rights and responsibilities as well as those of the consumer.

DPC has provided feedback and are assisting with the distribution of the 2008 OCBA publication 'Talk About Shopping' specifically targeted at Aboriginal Australians.

DPC are also assisting OCBA with the development of a new consumer education campaign targeted at those living in remote areas and with low English literacy skills.

OCBA is a member of a DPC Financial Literacy Working Group supporting a 12 month pilot project to develop a Financial Literacy program to be delivered in three communities on the APY Lands. This program is being specifically designed to raise awareness of Anangu to their rights as consumers and to identify and encourage reporting of illegal business practices.

Neither the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs, nor DPC are aware of any translated financial services contracts being available.