Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts today presented recently graduated Fair Trading inspectors and investigators with certificates of investigation at Fair Trading headquarters at Parramatta.

Mr Roberts said he was honoured to shake the hands of the 30 graduating staff at a ceremony to celebrate their achievements.

“Each of these dedicated officers performs a crucial role at the forefront of Fair Trading’s compliance program,” he said.

“Fair Trading inspectors are responsible for removing unsafe toys from our shelves, ensuring real estate agents work ethically and professionally and checking the safety of gas and electrical equipment.

“They also ensure tradespeople such as plumbers and home builders have the correct credentials to perform their work.

“These inspectors and investigators are critical to public safety and consumer certainty,” Mr Roberts said.

During the 2009/10 financial year Fair Trading conducted 15,435 inspections, 1,969 investigations and, issued 943 penalty notices and prosecuted 428 matters.

Mr Roberts also toured the Parramatta head office and met some of the 380 Fair Trading staff who work in crucial customer service and mediation roles.

“Over one third of all Fair Trading staff are based at Parramatta and the Fair Trading Centre, which is the agency’s public face, is the second largest in the Sydney Region,” he said.

“Fair Trading serves an important role in our community and I was delighted to meet and talk to the frontline staff who deal with consumers and traders every day.”

Member for Parramatta, Geoff Lee said the Parramatta Fair Trading Centre services local consumers and traders across Western Sydney.

“Each year Parramatta Fair Trading Centre staff deal with around 13,000 enquiries,” he said.

“The people of Western Sydney benefit from this first rate facility with its focus on consumer protection and promoting a fairer marketplace for all.”

“Minister Roberts’ visit to Parramatta so early in his term as the new Minister for Fair Trading clearly demonstrates the NSW Liberals’ strong commitment to the residents of Western Sydney,” Mr Lee said.

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