Page 1733 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 29 May 1990
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A telephone account service will be available. This will be of particular benefit to the finance and motor industries. An account customer will be able to search the register by quoting an account number and will be invoiced monthly. The invoice will have the same legal effect as a printed search certificate. Compensation will also be available to Territory consumers in cases of system malfunction which results in incorrect search certificates being issued.
To reinforce provisions already existing in the Sale of Motor Vehicles Act 1977, Sale of Goods Act 1954 and Trade Practices Act 1974, the Bill will place a responsibility on motor dealers to ensure that any motor vehicle sold by them to the public is acquired by the purchaser free from any encumbrance. Importantly, consumers will therefore not need to search the register when purchasing a vehicle from a registered motor dealer.
The introduction of a scheme for the registration of vehicle encumbrances has received the unanimous support of consumer groups and the motor and finance industries. Such systems are already operating in Canada and the United States of America. Registers have also been established in most Australian States and the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory entered into an agreement with New South Wales to record its encumbrance information on the New South Wales register and commenced operation on 5 March 1990. As a result of the adoption by the Northern Territory and the ACT of the New South Wales system, 30 per cent of all registered vehicles in Australia will be covered by a single, uniform register.
In summary, Mr Speaker, the establishment of a registration scheme for ACT vehicle encumbrance information represents a significant advance in the level of protection that will be afforded to consumers in the marketplace. The scheme has been endorsed not only by consumer groups but also by industry whose legitimate interest will be protected. This scheme will provide for a simple, cost-effective, reliable and readily accessible system for recording vehicle encumbrance information. Adoption by the Territory of the New South Wales system provides an excellent opportunity for cooperation between the ACT and New South Wales governments, at the same time as providing the best possible scheme for the Territory. Mr Speaker, I now present the explanatory memorandum to the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Connolly) adjourned.
Adjournment
MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
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