(Thank you Matilda House for the welcome)
To my Ministerial colleagues
The Honourable Diane Beamer MP (NSW);
The Honourable Marsha Thompson MP (VIC);
The Honourable Margaret Keech MP (QLD);
The Honourable John Kobelke MP (WA);
The Honourable Judy Jackson MP (TAS);
Mr Len Kiely MP - Representing the Honourable Peter Toyne MP Minister for Justice and Attorney General (NT),
and to invited guests, welcome to our National Gallery for the launch of the National Indigenous Consumer Strategy entitled “Taking Action, Gaining Trust”.
This initiative is supported by all jurisdictions across Australia and it is one that I, as the current Chair of the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs, am very pleased to be a part of.
This process has brought together agencies at the Commonwealth level, Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Offices around the country, indigenous consumer groups and people genuinely concerned about the welfare of all Australian consumers.
We have seen and heard many stories about how a lack of knowledge of consumer rights and responsibilities can impact people’s lives. We owe it to those who may not have access to information about consumer protection, to educate them and help build their confidence in the marketplace.
It should not matter what your background is, the fact remains that all Australians deserve to have confidence that the market is safe, reliable and efficient.
Moreover, we as governments are collectively committed to any program that can help educate Australians about their rights in an ever changing world.
I would like to record my particular thanks to the two agencies which fall within my portfolio – the ACCC and ASIC for their role in the development of this strategy.
In the spirit of absolute bipartisanship, the National Indigenous Consumer Strategy is being launched under the auspices of the Ministerial Council.
Accordingly, I would like to publicly thank both Western Australia and The Northern Territory for their work on this strategy and in doing so would like to introduce to you Mr Len Kiely MLA who is representing the Northern Territory Government.