Page 4284 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2019

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actually listening, and if Mrs Dunne was actually listening, they would understand that that is what the heart of the motion is about. But I guess now they will have to read the transcript.

This motion is about doing our best to allay confusion, stress and expense. It is simply about enhancing buyer confidence. And, if someone does end up with a lemon, it is about providing better and clearer channels of recourse. It is why I am simply calling on the government to review the existing ACT legislation and consider whether consumer protections can and need to be expanded. I have put forward a number of options within the motion.

As Mr Wall drew attention to, one option is introducing 30-day warranties. Just like now, I think he was talking to his colleague when I discussed this at length in my first speech, but I am not looking to unfairly burden car dealerships. That is not the intent of it at all. It is about striking the right balance. A warranty in the vicinity of one month, or maybe that could be thought through a bit further, is simply about making sure that older second-hand vehicles are simply in working order.

Again, I am absolutely not convinced by Mr Wall’s remarks that this is going to affect the industry negatively. In fact they may get more business out of this because people will have more confidence in them and in the process of buying a vehicle and the protections afforded to those people. It might result in consumers moving away from private sales. You would think that Mr Wall, if he had actually thought through the intent of this motion, would be supportive of that.

This motion comes too late for consumers like Byron and Jess. But we have the opportunity to ensure that more people avoid purchasing a lemon, or at least are better protected if they do and at least are better aware of all of the options available to them when they are purchasing a vehicle.

I commend this motion to the Assembly.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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