The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) participated in the development of a national indigenous consumer strategy Taking Action, Gaining Trust in collaboration with other commonwealth, state and territory government consumer agencies. The strategy was launched on 1 September 2005.
The objectives of the strategy are to:
improve indigenous consumers’ knowledge of their rights and obligations under consumer protection laws and achieve greater Indigenous access to consumer protection programs
improve the behaviour of traders, through education and compliance activity, to reduce detriment experienced by indigenous consumers
promote effective engagement and partnership between consumer protection agencies, indigenous organisations, business and other government agencies to improve consumer outcomes for indigenous people.
The strategy identifies actions under the following eight key priority areas:
Employment of indigenous staff in consumer agencies
Advocacy of indigenous consumers’ interests
Housing
Financial management and banking
Motor vehicles and banking
Trading practices
Arts industry
Managing indigenous community organisations.
Progress against the actions identified in the plan will be monitored, evaluated and reported on an annual basis. Each participating consumer agency through a reference group, which includes non government Indigenous representatives. The ACCC is a member of this reference group.
In addition to its enforcement work the ACCC is working on a range of initiatives to address indigenous consumer issues. This action plan provides a framework for this work to continue and for agencies to share information and education materials, to collaborate in the enforcement of consumer rights and to coordinate research and policy development.
You can download a copy of the document (preferred) or telephone the ACCC Infocentre 1300 302 502 to request a copy (limited numbers available).
