Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc – Minister for Local Government, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Renters) (14:23): I rise to inform the house of a great new campaign of the Carroll Labor government to protect people buying a used car, because we are on the side of working Victorians. Last week the government launched the Don’t Buy a Regret campaign.

Matthew Guy interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Bulleen, you are warned.

Tim RICHARDSON: We are not talking about a colour of blue or a colour of orange. We are not saying that is not a regretful campaign that some in the Parliament might feel a little aggrieved about. No, we are talking about a campaign that provides practical support to consumers to understand their rights in navigating the used car market. More than half of used car sales are through private sellers and are private purchasers’ opportunity to access those protections and have a statutory warranty that may apply to buying a motor car. Buying a car is a massive decision, whether it is about getting to your place of work as a young person or whether it is about getting your kids around. These are the realities of working families, and Victorians deserve to have the confidence in their rights to negotiate a second-hand car. Victorians deserve to have those protections, because a Carroll Labor government is on their side. This government is working to protect them, whether it is our Don’t Buy a Regret campaign or our consumer affairs laws or allowing the Consumer Affairs Victoria team to investigate, fine and prosecute odometer tampering and create a single point of contact for Victorians that might be ripped off. Buying any car is a massive financial commitment that we make in our lives, and when people are facing cost-of-living pressure it is a mental anxiety that each and every one of them faces. The Carroll Labor government is protecting Victorians from dodgy deals, and we fight hard every day to protect them from duds, clunkers, rust buckets and the ultimate lemon – or should I say orange – a coalition One Nation–Liberal government.