Small business and consumers in regional and rural Western Australia are the focus of a new initiative of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The commitment to addressing the concerns of business and consumers outside the major metropolitan areas has led to the establishment of the ACCC Rural and Regional Program.
The Rural & Regional Program in Western Australia will be launched in Kalgoorlie by the ACCC’s Commissioner for Small Business, Mr John Martin on Monday 20 May 2002.
Small businesses in rural and regional Australia are especially vulnerable to the problems caused by lack of information, misuse of bargaining power and misleading and deceptive conduct.
The Program incorporates regular visits to regional and rural centres and concentrates on working with regional communities through well established networks and agencies. In the Goldfields area, the ACCC's Regional Outreach Officers are working closely with the Local Shires; the Goldfields Development Commission; Chamber of Commerce; and the local Business Enterprise Centre.
These organisations use their contacts in business, community and government to promote understanding of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and the role of the ACCC. Regional supporters will also provide business with better access to ACCC resources, which include publications; training videos; journals; regular newsletters and bulletins.
"The ACCC has recently taken a number of important cases to protect small businesses in relation to price fixing within the petrol industry; misleading and deceptive conduct in retailing; unconscionable conduct in retail tenancy; and misuse of market power. We are committed to protecting the interest of regional communities", Mr Martin, said today. "The Program aims to help small business identify and deal with problems before they get out of hand".
The Western Australia launch of the ACCC Rural and Regional Program will be held in the Banquet Room in the Kalgoorlie Town Hall from 11am on Monday 20 May 2002.