The ACCC recently launched a new Facebook page ‘ACCC – Your Rights Mob – Indigenous consumers’ to help inform and empower Indigenous consumers to stand up for their consumer rights. This is on the back of launching the ‘Your Rights Mob Tiwi Islands’ Facebook page, which was launched on the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin, in 2013.
“The new national page will promote deadly films about consumer rights, information about what some traders have done elsewhere to trick consumers, tips on how to protect your rights, local events in regional areas, news articles of interest to Indigenous consumers and weekly consumer information on scams, refunds and product safety,” NT Regional Director Derek Farrell said.
Mr Farrell pointed out that the ACCC recognises that social media is being used extensively in remote, rural and regional areas. This new Facebook page will provide timely and relevant consumer information to Indigenous consumers.
“Facebook has proven to be a very effective tool to speak directly to Indigenous consumers about their rights, spread the warning about scams and provide advice on how to deal with door-to-door sales people and telemarketers.” Mr Farrell commented.
Mr Farrell explained that the ACCC’s Indigenous outreach work has also helped us to detect consumer law problems involving Startel Commmunications (selling mobile phone plans), Austar (selling cable television services), Tiny Tots (selling photography services) and Titan (selling first aid kits and water coolers) in several Indigenous communities.
