CONSUMER PROTECTION, REGIONAL MONITORING

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (16:07): My question is to the Minister for Consumer Affairs. On 26 May the minister advised the chamber of a regional monitoring program to ensure rural consumers were getting a fair deal. Will the minister advise the chamber of the outcomes?

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 for the City of Adelaide) (16:07): I thank the honourable member for his question and interest in these matters. In the week commencing 24 May this year more than 200 traders were targeted in one of the biggest rural trade audits carried out along the West Coast. In a busy week of auditing, officers from OCBA visited towns including Port Lincoln, Coffin Bay, Smoky Bay, Elliston, Streaky Bay, Wudinna, Kimba, Port Pirie and other towns.

Over the week officers from OCBA visited more than 120 stores, including retailers, car dealers, builders, service stations and pubs, to ensure that they were operating under fair trade and product safety laws. In terms of fair trading laws, OCBA was checking warranty practices and lay-by terms. I am delighted to say that all stores were found to be complying with these obligations.

In relation to product safety inspections, I advise that OCBA officers examined 783 new and second-hand products to identify any safety concerns for consumers. This program was an enormous effort to ensure the safety of our consumers. It is pleasing to say that only minor breaches were detected. In relation to all the items checked and tested, only one pram was subject to further examination. I should say that the pram complied. Two trolley jacks were not displaying the required safety warning labels and these were removed from sale.

OCBA's trade measurement officers also scrutinised 172 measuring instruments such as petrol pumps, weighing scales, spirit measures, as well as examining 136 pre-packaged products. This monitoring resulted in several traders being found in breach, with written warnings being issued to traders, four of whom had unapproved measures of length, two spirit measures incorrectly used and one for incomplete labels on bags of firewood. Second-hand car dealers also came under the spotlight, with written warnings being issued to six second-hand car dealers and an auto-electrician is being further investigated by OCBA about alleged odometer adjustments.

While most traders are doing the right thing, unfortunately we have uncovered some unfair trading practices on the West Coast, which obviously we are taking a closer look at, but, on the whole, I am very pleased to say that West Coast residents can rest assured that they are getting a fair deal. The majority of traders were found to be complying with the law and selling products which were safe and correctly labelled, honouring their lay-by and warranty responsibilities, and selling accurate measures of goods. I take this opportunity to remind members that West Coast consumers can contact the local OCBA office at the Port Augusta office for information. Of course, there is always information available online.