ACCC and ASIC team up to help Indigenous Australians

A three-year action plan has been put forward to help Indigenous Australians with consumer issues, including scams, unscrupulous door- to-door sellers, and discrimination in the housing market.

The National Indigenous Consumer Strategy (NICS) Action Plan will see the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), NICS and the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) work together to ensure issues affecting Indigenous Australians are given a priority.

The NICS Action Plan 2017-2019 includes a focus the following priority areas:

• Trading practices with a focus on door-to-door and telemarketing
• Scam practices with a focus on improving consumer awareness of scams
• Consumer-directed care focusing on the NDIS and increasing consumers’ awareness of their rights
• Motor vehicles focusing on consumer and dealer rights and obligations

ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard is encouraging of the plan, stating that “the rules that regulate traders and service providers need to be fair and responsive to the needs of Indigenous people.”

“The ACCC has been active in the Indigenous consumer protection space for many years including through recent initiatives like the ‘Do Not Knock informed’ communities program and various enforcement actions.

“Our challenge in the next three years is to deliver real results through the NICS Action Plan. It’s a challenge we’re proud to be part of and eager to take on,” said Ms Rickard.

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