CONSUMER RIGHTS

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer Affairs a question about consumer rights.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: The minister has informed the council about guides for assisting shoppers to know their rights. Will the minister inform the council about the guide developed specifically for Aboriginal communities on the APY lands?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:10): The APY lands community will benefit from a new information booklet on consumer rights that is being released today. Talk About Shopping is a booklet that forms part of an education program to inform Aboriginal consumers about their rights when purchasing goods and services using credit. It addresses basic consumer topics relevant to residents of the APY lands such as credit, booking up goods and purchasing a car.

The booklet was developed by the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs to assist consumers to better understand their rights and where they can go for help if problems arise. Officers from the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs worked closely with members of the APY community and Aboriginal organisations to design a booklet that residents of the APY lands can relate to and enjoy reading. Important messages about consumer rights are conveyed in an easy, straightforward way, with culturally appropriate illustrations to help convey the message. The visual representation of the consumer message should work well with people for whom art and visual imagery are second nature.

The Office of Consumer and Business Affairs was also assisted by Better World Arts in Port Adelaide in purchasing the rights to the cover art of the booklet. The artwork represents a Dreamtime creation story and was painted by an artist from the APY lands, and it is a very lovely cover.

This is the fourth publication in a series that targets specific consumer groups such as migrants, refugees and Aboriginal people. Informed consumers can make better choices when it comes to buying goods or services and deciding how to pay for them. Talk About Shopping ensures that everyone understands their rights when buying goods or services, and more information on the Talk About Shopping booklet can be obtained from the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs.