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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-06-16 Daily Xml
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Consumer Education

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Business Services and Consumers a question about educating our younger generation on the risks involved when signing contracts.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Young people—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Gazzola has the floor.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Young people are often at risk of signing contracts without being fully aware of terms and conditions which can later result in significant charges or conditions they were not aware of. My question is: minister, will you advise: what education programs does CBS have in place to protect the younger community when signing contracts for the first time?

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) (15:24): I thank the honourable member for his most important question, and I am delighted to report on the fantastic work that Consumer and Business Services continues to do to educate consumers and traders on their rights and responsibilities.

CBS conducts regular monitoring of local businesses to ensure that traders are aware of their obligations and responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law. Consumer education is also a high priority for CBS, not only to assist and empower our community to resolve issues when they arise, but more so to avoid them in the first instance.

It is evident that our younger community are at risk when signing contracts, in particular phone contracts and lease agreements, which can result in significant charges or conditions that they may not be aware of. Consumer and Business Services has always focused on protecting our most vulnerable and particularly our younger community, with no exception.

This year, South Australia's Consumer and Business Services was present at the 2015 Aboriginal Power Cup. Hundreds of students gathered at the Alberton Oval with an opportunity to learn how they can take charge of aspects of their own lives and their own futures. CBS offered advice and tips to students about topics that will help them in the transition from high school to young adulthood.

The Aboriginal Power Cup was initially developed as an early intervention strategy to engage at-risk young children in sporting activities to encourage them to continue with their education and make positive lifestyle choices. CBS hosted a stall at the Aboriginal Power Cup expo, and students were able to visit while teams participated in the round-robin football games at the carnival.

The CBS stand provided an opportunity for students to learn about issues such as renting rights and the pitfalls of mobile phone contracts, with CBS developing a questionnaire about two common scenarios that are faced by young consumers: renting a place to live for the first time and dealing with bill shock when an unexpected expensive phone bill arrives.

The stand also provided an opportunity for students, and their accompanying teachers and parents, to discuss and explore employment opportunities. Approximately 350 students completed the renting and consumer rights quiz and entered a competition to win an iPad. I am advised that the winner of the iPad was a lucky student from Immanuel College.

It is critical to ensure that students in their senior years of schooling are aware of their consumer rights before they sign a contract or a lease agreement, to prevent problems arising down the track. CBS also distributed consumer rights publications designed for Aboriginal consumers, which can be helpful tools when shopping and making those big decisions, such as entering into mobile phone contracts, renting a home or flat and purchasing a car.

In addition to that, I would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Deputy Premier, who through the AGD provides a $200,000 grant each year plus administrative support for the Power Cup, and the continued work from the Hon. Kyam Maher, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

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