The Keneally Government will invest $195.7 million to deliver frontline support services to NSW consumers and traders.

Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge said the 2010-11 NSW Budget includes an extra $6 million investment in the agency’s new role as the single regulator for gas and plumbing.

“Fair Trading will become the ‘one-stop-shop’ for all consumer safety issues relating to natural gas and LPG appliances, including LPG vehicles and gas fittings,” she said.

“It will also become the state’s single plumbing regulator, replacing more than 100 individual agency arrangements currently in existence.

“Fair Trading has been licensing plumbers and regulating the home building industry since 1996 and the new system will improve the agency’s compliance capabilities.

“It will allow us to carry out more effective investigations and prosecutions of unlicensed plumbers, as well as reducing red tape for small businesses by having only one regulator to deal with.”

The Keneally Government will invest $26 million to deliver frontline support to NSW families and business through 24 local Fair Trading Centres and $4 million on technology to secure better services for the future.

“Every year Fair Trading receives more than 6 million requests for its services including 3.5 million visits to the Fair Trading website,” Ms Judge said.

“Our online services ensure that consumers and traders can access Fair Trading 24/7.”

The Keneally Government will invest $17.6 million in frontline services such as:

• Tenancy Advice & Advocacy – $8.86 million
• Financial Counselling – $5.56 million
• No Interest Loans Scheme – $1.78 million
• Aged Care Supported Accommodation – $397,000
• Rental Bond Board – $800,000
• Home Building Advocacy Service – $220,000.

“The Keneally Government’s $800,000 Industry Grants Programs builds on the state’s strong economic growth and delivers a better future for the home building, property services, cooperative and motor vehicle sectors,” Ms Judge said.

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