Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney today announced the establishment of an Aboriginal Consultative Forum between the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT) and leaders from the Aboriginal communities.

Ms Burney said the forum is one a number of new strategies coming from the Tribunal.

“This forum is an example of how the CTTT is working to improve the services it offers to everyone in the community, including vulnerable community groups,” Ms Burney said.

“Its aim is to forge links between the Tribunal and Aboriginal leaders so that the Indigenous community can be made aware of Tribunal services, in particular around tenancy issues.

“The Tribunal will work with forum members to develop information material that is relevant and appropriate for the Aboriginal community.”

Some of the guides and fact sheets to be created cover:

• A user guide outlining the different types of matters that can come to the CTTT
• How disputes are dealt with 
• How to prepare for conciliation and hearings
• Where to get help and how to lodge an application.

Members of the forum represent several key Aboriginal organisations including:

• Aboriginal Housing Office
• Murra Mia Tenant Advocacy Service (Batemans Bay)
• Bungree Aboriginal Association Inc (Toukley)
• Dtarawarra Aboriginal Resource Unit
• Anaiwan Local Aboriginal Land Council (Inverell)
• NSW Aboriginal Land Council (Western Region and Northern Region)
• Aboriginal Legal Services
• Office of Fair Trading
• Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

The Tribunal was set up in 2002 as an independent body to hear disputes about retail transactions, motor vehicle purchase and repair, credit matters, real estate agents’ and conveyancers’ fees, residential tenancies, home building, strata and community schemes, residential parks and retirement villages.

It receives more than 64,000 applications each year. The majority of disputes are resolved within one month and about 70% are resolved within 35 days of lodging applications.

For more information, visit http://www.cttt.nsw.gov.au/.

Back to Media releases