Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts today launched two new translated Fair Trading resources to help consumers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds understand their rights and obligations when running a new association or renting a property.

Incorporating a new association will be published in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Dinka, English, Farsi and Vietnamese and the New tenant checklist will be published in Arabic, Assyrian, Chinese, Dari, Dinka, English, Farsi, Indonesian, Korean, Spanish, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese.

Speaking at the Think Smart on Consumer Rights seminar today at the Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre, the Minister said that consumer rights are critical and it is important that everyone is informed and able to exercise them.

“New migrants and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are particularly vulnerable in their consumer dealings as they may also be trying to cope with a new language and legal system,” he said.

“Our consumer protection laws are designed to protect the interests of everyone, no matter where they come from, but if consumers don’t know about these rights then they can’t exercise them.

“This is why Fair Trading’s information is provided in other languages to ensure that newly arrived migrants have access to the right information and are not disadvantaged.”

Mr Roberts said Fair Trading works in partnership with community organisations such as Migrant Resource Centres that are pivotal in delivering information, resources and education to culturally and linguistically diverse community groups.

“One of the best defences against unscrupulous marketplace practices has always been well informed consumers, and Fair Trading works hard to communicate its message – especially to those groups it considers most at risk and vulnerable,” he said.

“Fair Trading’s Think Smart supports and educates community members from diverse backgrounds. The Think Smart program currently has 37 partners – 29 community partners and 8 multilingual media partners.

“The Think Smart philosophy is simple – every person, regardless of their cultural background, deserves a fair go,” Mr Roberts said.

Back to Media releases