Bills

Second-hand Vehicle Dealers (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Final Stages

Consideration in committee of the Legislative Council's amendment.

(Continued from 2 May 2024.)

The Hon. A. MICHAELS: I move:

That the Legislative Council's amendment be agreed to.

I might make a few brief comments on this amendment and the passage of the bill. To begin with, I want to indicate our support for the amendment proposed by the Hon. Connie Bonaros in the other place. I want to thank her and the RAA for their strong advocacy on behalf of consumers, which has been reflected in this final version of the bill.

I also want to put on record very briefly my thanks to so many of the members in this place and the other place who spoke on this bill and shared their experiences very often on their first car purchase, which was quite enlightening from both sides of this house. I have so much more information than I ever thought I would have.

I want to particularly thank the departmental staff from Consumer and Business Services, in particular Leigh Kinsela, Emily Sims and Acting Commissioner Fraser Stroud. Their great thoroughness in providing information to members probably helped the swift passage of this bill through both chambers.

This bill not only provides improved consumer protections but also puts unlicensed car dealers and those who tamper with odometers on notice that South Australia now has the strongest laws in the country in this respect. As well as the RAA, I want to thank the Motor Trade Association and in particular CEO, Darrell Jacobs, his board and his staff for their strong advocacy to get this bill before the parliament and for their public support on many of the reforms that we now have through this bill.

Mr TEAGUE: I indicate that the opposition also supports the amendment, coming as it does from the other place. I think the minister has indicated acknowledgement of the Hon. Connie Bonaros, who has moved it there. I do too. I acknowledge as well that the course of the passage of time and various additional representations have been made on this discrete topic of the amendment.

I think on a number of occasions the RAA has been singled out for its assistance in terms of those representations. Perhaps not the only party to have participated, but the particular advocacy of the RAA in this regard and highlighting in particular what is regarded as a means by which those who are perhaps young and otherwise unusually vulnerable might benefit from the retention of the witnessing requirement that this amendment results in. So it is a reversion to what is there. I see from the government's attitude to it and also from the opposition, it is regarded as sufficient cause to retain that provision, so hence the opposition joins the government in supporting it.

I otherwise take the opportunity to express my appreciation to those officials at Consumer and Business Services and the assistance of the minister in the course of the debate. I certainly commend the bill now to the house in its final form and we look forward to these reforms steadily continuing to improve the experience of consumers undertaking what is undoubtedly one of the more significant transactions in day-to-day consumer life. I commend the amendment and commend the bill.

Motion carried.