A new tool has been launched to help people from non-English speaking backgrounds understand their rights as consumers, according to Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, David Bradbury. Mr Bradbury joined Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou for World Consumer Rights Day to announce that the Your Shopping Rights fact sheet will now be available in 29 community languages.
Under Australian Consumer Law, which began January 1, 2011, consumers have clear rights that are now applied consistently around the country, Mr Bradbury said. “The law guarantees the consumer the quality of goods and services, no matter whether the product was purchased at home, interstate or online,” he said. “Your Shopping Rights gives consumers – whether they speak English, Mandarin, Dinka, Spanish or Croatian – practical information about their rights and where to go if they have questions or concerns.”
As a former language teacher Ms Vamvakinou said she was particularly excited that the fact sheet will be available in different languages. “Languages other than English have an important role in Australian society as we are a multilingual community. Our language capacity is one of our greatest strengths and should be reflected in our daily activities,” she said. “There are now a wide range of information tools available to consumers, including an iPhone application, that will help them understand their rights, and I am pleased that we can now also make these tools available in different languages.”
For more details phone1300 302 502 or visit: www.consumerlaw.gov.au
