MR CHOI ASKED THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND FAIR TRADING (MR LAWLOR)—
QUESTION:
Will the Minister advise the measures that the Bligh Government is taking to raise the awareness of consumers when they are considering making major purchasing decisions?
ANSWER:
The State Government has a range of measures in place aimed at raising the awareness of consumers when they are considering making major purchasing decisions. These measures include:
- a comprehensive, easy to use website (www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au)
- a range of fact sheets and smart guides
- translated information on the Fair Trading website
- the Get Out There website (www.getoutthere.qld.gov.au) - which is designed to provide consumer information to youth.
In 2009 the State Government launched a range of revised fact sheets and Smart Guides to equip Queenslanders with important consumer protection information.
The fact sheets and pocket-sized guides are introductions to a wealth of information available online for consumers and they have proved to be very popular.
The four guides on offer are Buy Smart, Property Smart, Car Smart and Retire Smart. The guides aim to raise the awareness of consumers when they are considering making major purchasing decisions.
- Buy Smart is a general guide to buying products and services in Queensland and it includes information on consumer rights and responsibilities, refunds, warranties, and warnings about scams and fraud.
- Property Smart provides information for consumers who are considering buying or selling a property and advice on obtaining finance and the costs involved.
- The Car Smart guide includes information on buying a new or used car, attending auctions and hints on vehicle repairs and maintenance.
- Retire Smart offers older Queenslanders details on retirement living options along with advice on residence contracts, dispute resolution and fees and maintenance.
While these fact sheets and guides are sources of information, the Office of Fair Trading website also includes dedicated consumer sections providing advice about refunds and warranties, product safety, credit, motor vehicles and insurance.
Queensland’s non-English speakers also have access to information about their consumer rights. Information about how the Office of Fair Trading can assist Queenslanders has been translated and made available online in 15 languages.
These languages include Arabic, Bosnian, Dari (Persian), Dinka (Sudanese), Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Swahili.
Given the challenging economic climate, it is more important than ever for consumers to be fully aware of their rights - so they can buy with confidence and avoid pitfalls along the way.
The Office of Fair Trading’s fact sheets and guides are available on-line at the Office of Fair Trading web-site www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au from the Queensland Government Bookshop www.bookshop.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 13 04.
