MRS CROFT ASKED THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND FAIR TRADING (MR LAWLOR) —
QUESTION:
Will the Minister outline the benefits to young people in my electorate of the Department of Fair Trading’s Buy Smart campaign?
ANSWER:
The Buy Smart competition is run annually by the Bligh Government through the Office of Fair Trading. The competition helps young Queenslanders become smarter consumers by equipping them with the skills and knowledge they will need when entering the marketplace.
Students enter the competition by researching a financial literacy or consumer protection topic, and making a creative presentation to their peers on their findings.
Young people begin using mobile phones, debit and credit cards at an early age, and competitions like Buy Smart will help make them more aware of consumer issues and the difficulties and traps of excessive debt.
Fair Trading also provides resources to teachers to help them integrate financial literacy outcomes into the curriculum, helping to embed ‘smart consumer’ knowledge into students from a young age.
Last year Fair Trading received hundreds of entries in the 2009 Buy Smart Competition from students across the state - including board games, DVDs, songs, animations, booklets and websites. Topics covered by the students included avoiding scams, getting a refund, online shopping and credit card debt.
I launched the 2010 competition at the Port Douglas State School on Monday, 19 April 2010. Entries can be lodged with Fair Trading until Friday, 17 September 2010. Cash prizes will be awarded in three categories for years 5–7, years 8–9 and years 10–12:
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First Prize: $500 student and $1,500 for the school
Second Prize: $200 student and $800 for the school
Third Prize: $150 student and $500 for the school.
I would encourage all teachers and parents to support their students and children to enter this competition and sharpen up their consumer skills.
I am looking forward to seeing some innovative and educational entries from students in the Broadwater electorate, and indeed across Queensland
