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Public Hearings

The committee recently held public hearings as follows:  

31 August 2015
Mount Isa:      Red Earth Hotel                    1.30 – 5.00 pm

1 September 2015
Weipa:             Weipa Motel                         6.00 – 8.30 pm

3 September 2015
Cairns:             Rydges Esplanade Hotel        1.30 - 3.00 pm

The committee held a public hearing with invited witnesses at Parliament House, Brisbane on Wednesday 28 October 2015 at 9:00am.  The transcript is available under the Related Publications tab. 

Submissions

Submissions closed at 4:00pm on Thursday, 8 October 2015.  They can be viewed under the Submissions tab.

Terms of Reference

On 15 July 2015, the Legislative Assembly directed the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (the committee) to inquire into consumer protections and remedies for buyers of new motor vehicles. 

By motion of the Legislative Assembly the Committee is required to report to the Parliament by 30 November 2015.

The full terms of reference are:

That the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee inquire into and report on whether there is a need to improve the consumer protections and remedies for buyers of new motor vehicles with numerous, severe defects that reoccur despite multiple repair attempts or where defects have caused a new motor vehicle to be out of service for a prolonged period of time ('lemons').

That, in undertaking the inquiry, the Committee should consider, but not be limited to:

1. the experiences of consumers in Queensland who have purchased 'lemons' including community expectations of what constitutes a 'lemon' motor vehicle and the impacts, financial and otherwise, on consumers who have purchased 'lemons';
2. the consumer protections and remedies available under existing legislation, such as those contained in the Australian Consumer Law and state-based legislation, including remedies available through Queensland courts and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and their adequacy in assisting consumers who have purchased 'lemons';
3. how legislative protections and remedies might be improved to better protect Queensland consumers who have purchased 'lemons', including improving the ability of consumer to enforce their rights without recourse to courts or tribunals; and
4. any legislative and other protections in other jurisdictions assisting consumers who have purchased 'lemons', including the costs and benefits of existing and proposed protections.

That the Committee seek public submissions and consult with key stakeholders, including motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers, as well as consumer protection representatives and report to the Legislative Assembly by 30 November 2015.

The committee tabled its report on 30 November 2015.  It can be viewed under the Related Publications tab.