Consumer and Business Services

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:28): Thank you, Mr President.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Kandelaars has the floor.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Business Services and Consumers a question about a recent compliance operation undertaken by Consumer and Business Services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I understand that Consumer and Business Services recently undertook an end of year sales compliance operation to ensure businesses complied with their obligations under the Australian Consumer Law. Can the minister update the chamber on the outcome of the Consumer and Business Services end of year compliance operation?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:29): I am very pleased to advise members about the Consumer and Business Services recent compliance operation that was undertaken to ensure that consumers are protected at a time of increased sales that are typical around the end of financial year time. The end of financial year sales obviously can offer consumers a great opportunity to snap up some great bargains, but it is important that consumers are protected from any business that might inadvertently or blatantly rip them off. That is why our state consumer watchdog has been out there visiting businesses and undertaking surprise inspections to ensure that they are meeting their obligations under the Australian Consumer Law.

This recent compliance operation by Consumer and Business Services demonstrates the great work they undertake in protecting South Australian consumers and ensuring a fair marketplace across the state. Operatives from Consumer and Business Services undertook unplanned visits to 43 stores throughout South Australia, metropolitan and regional, and all within the past week. Pleasingly, I am advised that inspectors detected only seven stores with price scanning issues, where items would scan at a higher price than that marked on the shelf ticket. Each of these stores has been issued with a formal warning and all scanning issues were rectified on the spot.

The state consumer watchdog will be visiting these stores again in future. Again, it will be another surprise visit to ensure ongoing compliance. If they are found to be at fault again, further action will be taken against those businesses, and ultimately it could even end in prosecution. I am advised that these matters relate to small amounts, but they add up. The bottom line is that the Australian Consumer Law provides an effective national framework to ensure a fair marketplace, and our consumer watchdog is out there ensuring that businesses comply.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the vigilant, hardworking Consumer and Business Services. The many officers there are very hard working and committed. It has specialised operatives out there on a regular basis ensuring that businesses comply with their obligation, but recognises the importance of educating parties on their rights and obligations under the Australian Consumer Law, resulting in measured and considered steps being taken where appropriate.

South Australian consumers can purchase goods and services with the knowledge that the state consumer watchdog is out there protecting their rights. I recognise the collaborative effort between Consumer and Business Services and the business community to ensure that together they encourage a fair market, promote awareness of parties' rights and responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law, and strive to achieve a competitive marketplace that provides confidence to consumers and businesses alike when purchasing or selling products and services.

It is important that consumers remember to be diligent in checking that they are paying the ticket sale price, the benefits to shopping around and not purchasing something with haste, and, if they are unsure of their rights or identify something that they think may not be right, Consumer and Business Services are there to offer assistance. It is a timely reminder of the importance of consumers knowing their refund rights, regardless of whether an item is full price or sale price.

Under Australian Consumer Law consumers are entitled to the repair, replacement or refund of an item if it is faulty or if it does not perform as advertised. Those signs you see 'No refunds on sale items' are in fact not legal signs. However, consumers are not necessarily entitled to a refund if they simply change their mind, as this will depend on the policy of the retailer. Shoppers should make sure they are aware of the retailer's change-of-mind policy before making a significant purchase.