Mr DAMIEN TUDEHOPE ( Epping ) ( 15:15 ): My question is addressed to the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation. How is the Government ensuring that consumers are put first and their rights are protected in the marketplace?
Mr MATT KEAN ( Hornsby—Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation) (15:15): I thank the member for Epping for his question about putting consumers first, because he is a consumer champion. Every day he stands up for the good people of Epping and other people across New South Wales.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Bankstown is on three calls to order.
Mr MATT KEAN: It is not just the member for Epping who loves to put consumers first; it is every member on this side of the House. Whether it be running out the My Place program to help vulnerable people to deal with scams or taking on the dodgy elements of the retirement village sector to protect our senior citizens, we will put consumers first every day of the week.
The SPEAKER: Order! I direct the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms to remove the member for Rockdale from the Chamber under Standing Order 249. I warn that others will follow if they do not come to order.
[The member for Rockdale left the Chamber at 15:16 accompanied by the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms.]
Mr MATT KEAN: We are the party of the individual. We are the party of the worker. We are the party of the people. Every year Fair Trading receives more than 50,000 complaints, and we are listening to those complaints. That is why we will introduce an amendment to the Fair Trading Act that puts consumers first in this State. We will take on the dodgy ticket scalpers, who want to take consumers for a ride and make a quick buck at the expense of genuine fans. We will smash the business model of the dodgy ticket scalpers by taking on ticket bots. We will stop the bots, because I am sick and tired of getting complaints from the member for Heathcote every time he tries to get tickets for the Justin Bieber concert and he is ripped off on Viagogo, having to pay 374 per cent more than the original ticket price.
The SPEAKER: Order! There is too much noise in the Chamber.
Mr MATT KEAN: This legislation is about putting the consumer first by making sure that genuine fans can access tickets at a reasonable price. We want to make sure that fans get a fair go and that the dodgy ticket scalpers are run out of town.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Blue Mountains will come to order. This is her last warning.
Mr MATT KEAN: We are not only putting consumers first when it comes to dodgy ticket scalpers; we are putting consumers first by extending the expiry dates on gift cards in New South Wales. This is all about putting money back into the hands of New South Wales consumers. Every year $60 million of hard-earned New South Wales consumers' money is being ripped out of their hands by retailers who want to make profits at the expense of the little guy. It is unacceptable and I will not stand for it. This is about putting money back into the hands of consumers because we think people deserve to get what they pay for. We think that when people use cash to purchase a gift card, they are entitled to receive the goods and services that they wish to receive. This business of retailers putting the money of consumers in their own pockets and not giving goods or service in return is outrageous.
Mr Rob Stokes: It's not fair. It's un-Australian.
Mr MATT KEAN: It is unfair, it is un-Australian and it is putting consumers last.
The SPEAKER: Order! There are too many interjections from Government members. The member for Kiama has been placed on three calls to order. This is his final warning.
Mr MATT KEAN: These are some of the ways the Government is putting consumers first. We will smash the business model of dodgy ticket scalpers in this State. We want to make sure that the member for Heathcote can access those Justin Bieber tickets at a fair and reasonable price, and we want to make sure that everybody who loves shopping with a gift card in the lead-up to Christmas is able to get what they pay for. We think it is not right that retailers can pocket the cash of hardworking New South Wales mums and dads, be they in Cootamundra, Murray or anywhere else. We think consumers deserve to get what they pay for, and that is why we will amend the Fair Trading Act to put consumers first.
