Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, will be in Cooma today meeting volunteers, young people and encouraging small businesses to get ahead.

The Minister will be flying the consumer protection flag by joining Fair Trading staff in visiting shops and small businesses and will meet consumers at the Fair Trading community education van which will be set up at Centennial Park at the corner of Bombala and Sharp streets. 

“This visit is a great opportunity for me to meet with local business owners and operators and hear first hand about the issues of greatest relevance to them,” Ms Burney said. 

“I also look forward to speaking one-on-one with local residents and talking to them about consumer issues of particular significance to the area.” 

During the trader walks she will be distributing sample refund signs, fridge magnets with Fair Trading contact details and the new Good business matters guide.

“The guide is a handy reference tool for new and existing business operators, providing an easy-to-follow snapshot of the rights and responsibilities of a business under fair trading law,” Ms Burney said. 

“In today’s competitive marketplace small business owners need to be well informed and one step ahead in order to succeed.  

“The guide covers information about marketplace responsibility and how to meet the growing expectations of the contemporary consumer.”

Ms Burney said the guide contains information on the impact of consumer protection laws on business operations, how to avoid business scams, and ways business people can use ethical trading practices to improve their bottom line. 

“The guide also covers information about starting a business, registering a business name, dealing with customers, complaint handling, advertising guidelines, and refunds and warranties.”

Further information about your rights and responsibilities as a business operator is on this website or call 13 32 20. 

While in Cooma, Ms Burney will also meet with young people at the YMCA Cooma Youth Project and with the Monaro Family Support Service.

“The Cooma Youth Project is a drop-in centre for all young people in Cooma and provides activities and opportunities to create a community they can be proud of,” Ms Burney said.

“A testimony to its appeal is that every day around 20 young people come along to participate.

“I am very keen to hear more about their plans for this year, especially their program for young women – a series of afternoon sessions on nutrition, hygiene and skin care and self-defence to encourage self esteem and confidence.”

Ms Burney will meet volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds at the Monaro Family Support Service.

“The service is involved in family support and young children issues and has a strong multicultural project focus, reflecting the recent history of Cooma,” Ms Burney said.

“One of their many project is the Multicultural Forum Group, made up entirely of volunteers, which advises local councils on relevant issues and undertakes projects such as developing welcome kits for newly arrived residents, many of whom come from Asia to work for the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation.

“Another interesting initiative is their Language Bank, a database of local people and their language skills which provides a source of multilingual volunteers ready to assist with new immigrants arriving in the district.”

Monday

12.30pm
Meeting with YMCA Youth Project
The Hub Youth Centre, 39-41 Vale Street, Cooma

2pm
Meeting Monaro Family Support Service and their multicultural volunteers
59a Vale Street, Cooma

3.15pm
Launching the Good business matters guide at Fair Trading’s Community Education Van and visiting traders in central shopping district
Centennial Park (Cooma Park), Corner Bombala and Sharp Streets, Cooma

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