CONSUMER AND BUSINESS SERVICES

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Business Services and Consumers. Can the minister please inform the house about the key work happening in the business services and consumer portfolio and why it is important for the portfolio to have a direct voice in cabinet?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for her question. Yes, the business services and consumer portfolio impacts on every South Australian. Consumer services (CBS) provide a core service delivery component for the portfolio, assisting South Australian consumers and businesses with thousands of matters each day.

In protecting and assisting consumers during the 2011-12 financial year, CBS recalled or withdrew from sale more than 100 product lines; inspected thousands of items for compliance with safety legislation; investigated more than 4,400 consumer complaints; processed more than 115,000 rental bond lodgements and refunds; undertook court action that secured compensation orders totalling more than $56,000 for consumers who had suffered loss; and informed the public of a number of consumer law campaigns, including the Do Not Knock campaign, aimed at protecting consumers from unwarranted approaches by door-to-door salesmen.

CBS also serves as a key link between many SA businesses and government issuing and monitoring more than 67,500 occupational licences annually, and licence renewals can now be done online, saving business red tape. The other key services provided through the portfolio include: providing more than 115,000 certificates through Births, Deaths and Marriages annually; providing advice and more than 114,000 inquiries on tenancies each year; managing the Residential Tenancies Tribunal, which heard approximately 9,000 hearings in the 2011-12 year; administering the liquor licensing process, dealing with more than 10,000 applications for renewal each year; and implementing the liquor licence general code of practice, designed to encourage responsible attitudes towards promotion, sale and consumption of alcohol.

The functions of Consumer and Business Services play a vital role in our community. When the hard policy decisions impacting on consumers and businesses are before cabinet, could the best outcome be reached if the person leading the discussion is not the minister at the table? I would be happy to provide a briefing to the member for Goyder, if he needs to brief his senior colleague at any time, in relation to these matters. I look forward to speaking to him in due course.