annual report 08-09 - Public Interest Advocacy Centre

CONSUMER RIGHTS
& PROTECTION
34
AIMS
• To ensure that consumers, particularly low-income
and vulnerable consumers, have access to fair
treatment in identified priority areas
• To redress obstacles to the fair treatment of
consumers in identified priority areas
• To encourage the active participation of
organisations and individuals committed to
ensuring that all people have access to fair
treatment as consumers
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Australia Post services secured for remote
community of Stanley Village
• Adoption of a National Charter of Healthcare Rights
• Energy and Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program
(EWCAP) celebrates 10 years representing the
interests of residential energy and water consumers
ABORIGINAL CONSUMER ADVOCACY
PIAC’s Indigenous Justice Program (IJP) remains committed to
ensuring that Aboriginal consumers, particularly those in remote
communities where there is a lack of accessible consumer
advocacy services, have access to fair treatment.
Working with partners, PIAC has commenced an investigation of
Aboriginal Funeral Funds to address issues relating to the lack of
consumer protection available to Aboriginal consumers of funeral
fund financial products. As part of PIAC’s ongoing investigation
into funeral fund selling practices in Aboriginal communities,
PIAC has become aware of the use of predatory selling practices
in order to sign up Aboriginal consumers to funeral fund financial
plans. PIAC is investigating potential legal claims arising from such
practices as well as examining the use of Centrepay as a method
of directly debiting premiums from social security payments by
certain funds. PIAC is also involved in ongoing discussions with
stakeholders such as the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission and the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network
about strategies to improve consumer protection in this area.
PIAC has also assisted a resident of the Aboriginal community of
Stanley Village (situated near Moree) who lodged a complaint
against Australia Post for failing to deliver mail to the community.
The community had been without postal services for over
30 years. As a result of a campaign by PIAC for the introduction of
postal services in the community, Australia Post agreed to deliver
mail to the residents of Stanley Village. PIAC’s success in this case
could pave the way for other remote communities to campaign for
postal services in their own communities.
PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009