Thursday, 6 February 2025

Eastern Victoria Region

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:01): (1358) My constituency question is for the Minister for Consumer Affairs. My constituent from Koo Wee Rup suffered a very frustrating and quite financially debilitating event. She locked herself out of her home. She rang and was quoted $100 to open it, 5 minutes work, and unfortunately there were standover tactics involved – physical intimidation and verbal standover tactics – by the locksmith, allegedly. Eight hundred dollars later she paid in order for them to go. She has contacted Consumer Affairs Victoria. Your office knows about it, and I am happy to provide additional information with regard to this specific case. But clearly there is something wrong when the department knows that these people are operating – rogue operators – and they are enabled to continue on with their work. So my question is: what is the minister doing to better protect people in Eastern Victoria Region, including my Koo Wee Rup constituent, from rogue operators that your department is well aware of?