Page 2247 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE PLEASURE IN INTRODUCING THE CREDIT

(AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH WILL FURTHER IMPROVE CONSUMER

PROTECTION IN SEVERAL WAYS.

MADAM SPEAKER, UNDER THIS GOVERNMENT THE AUSTRALIAN

CAPITAL TERRITORY HAS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT IN PROMOTING

THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFORM CONSUMER LEGISLATION

THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA.

ALTHOUGH THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A COMPLEX NATIONAL PROJECT

AFFECTED BY CHANGES OF GOVERNMENT, THE A.C.T. LED THE WAY IN

ENDORSING THE DRAFT UNIFORM CREDIT BILL IN 1992. THE A.C.T. ALSO

PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN MAINTAINING A FAIR BALANCE BETWEEN THE

CONSUMER'S RIGHT TO PROTECTION AND INDUSTRY'S RIGHT TO TRADE.

CERTAIN REFINEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE BILL AND ALL STATES

AND TERRITORIES NOW AGREE WITH THE POLICY PRINCIPLES OF

UNIFORM CREDIT LEGISLATION.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT, AS AGREED BY THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL OF

CONSUMER AFFAIRS (MCCA) UNIFORM LEGISLATION WILL BE

INTRODUCED INTO THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT AT THE END OF

THIS YEAR AND THIN APPLIED IN THE A.C.T. THROUGH APPROVED

LEGISLATION. THE MEASURES CONTAINED IN THIS BILL ARE REQUIRED

TO MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE LEVEL OF CONSUMER PROTECTION AND

INDUSTRY CERTAINTY UNTIL THE NEW UNIFORM CODE IS FULLY

OPERATIONAL.

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