Sept10 CAROLYNs PINE RIVERS NEWS
State Member for Pine Rivers
Queenslanders make every dollar count with new website.
The Every Dollar Counts website is a one-top shop which includes information on every rebate and concession available through the state government.
Queenslanders make every dollar count with new website.
The Every Dollar Counts website is a one-top shop which includes information on every rebate and concession available through the state government.
It includes information on our $216 pensioners electricity rebate, public transport and other travel subsidies, concessions for rates as well as health concessions like our brand new $216 medical cooling and heating rebate for people with multiple sclerosis and related health conditions.
Every Dollar Counts includes information on everything from the $1,000 Solar Hot Water Rebate to information about the increased first homebuyers grant for people setting up home in regional Queensland.
For more information visit the Every Dollar Counts website at www.qld.gov.au/everydollarcounts .
Seniors must remember rights when dealing with door knockers
Queensland senior residents are reminded of their consumer rights when they are approached at home by salespeople offering anything from handymen services to a new product for the household.
Selling products and services door-to-door is a legitimate way of doing business – so long as the salesperson follows the law which is in place to protect residents.
Products and services sold door-to-door may include bitumen driveway laying, house painting or washing, garden maintenance and pest control through to power or telephone services or household gadgets such as vacuum cleaners.
Door-to-door tradespeople offering any product or service must by law abide by the following rules:
Produce an identity card with the trader’s full name and address;
Provide a written contract clearly stating the breakdown of costs, including GST and the total price when the goods or services are more than $75;
Provide a 10-day cooling-off period when the goods and services are worth more than $75. During this time no payment, including deposits, can be accepted and no work can be commenced;
Provide a form outlining the consumer’s right to cancel a door-to-door contract;
Provide a form to actually make the cancellation within the cooling off period; and
Only contact customers between 9am-6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm on Saturdays. Calls on Sundays or public holidays are prohibited
The Office of Fair Trading has produced a “No door to door traders” sticker which can be affixed to your letterbox or door it you feel you do not want to be harassed at home by these people.
Members of the public can obtain a sticker or report suspicious activity of a trader to the OFT by visiting www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or calling 13 13 04.
Make the right choices in retirement
The Government would like to remind people to seek independent legal and financial advice before signing up to a retirement village scheme.
Queensland has more than 250 registered retirement village schemes and they can be a great place to unwind and enjoy retired life.
But you need to remember there are different types of retirement village schemes, each with its own set of pros and cons – so it is important to pick the right one.
Unfortunately many people moving into these schemes don’t read the fine print on contracts and find themselves with an arrangement that may not suit their needs.
Different types of accommodation in retirement village schemes include:
freehold – where the resident holds freehold title to the accommodation unit;
leasehold – where the resident’s lease is registered on the title to the retirement village land; and
licence – an unregistered contract between the resident and the operator, where the right is secured by a statutory charge over the retirement village land.
Many people don’t understand the differences between these, or the rights and obligations which arise under each scheme.
As village operators tend to make their profit on the resale of the right to reside, it is important for those moving into a retirement scheme to ensure they were clear about fees and expenses they may incur.
You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re paying out fees and expenses which you didn’t expect.
Make sure you know what the entry and ongoing fees are. Most importantly, find out what fees are payable if you leave the scheme as exit fees may be quite substantial.
For a free copy of Retire Smart visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.
For more information about retirement villages visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or Association of Residents of Queensland Retirement Villages: www.villagers.org.au
Drink drivers to be locked out
Under strict new laws, high risk drink drivers caught from August 6 will have an ‘I’ condition for ‘Interlock’ slapped on their licence.
This means they will need to install an alcohol ignition interlock in their vehicles by December 2010, on top of any disqualification period and fine.
Alcohol interlocks are breath testing devices connected to the ignition that prevent the vehicle starting with anything over a zero blood alcohol concentration.
The interlock (“I”) licence condition is an additional re-licensing requirement for drink drivers at the completion of their licence disqualification period.
At the end of a disqualification period for drink driving, drivers will have an (“I”) condition attached to their licence for a minimum of 12 months.
To get back behind the wheel, these drivers will have to install an interlock at their own expense for the 12 month period.
The interlock (“I”) condition will be mandatory for:
First time offenders (within a five year period) with a blood alcohol reading 0.15 or more, driving under the influence of liquor or failure to supply a specimen for analysis
Offenders convicted of dangerous driving when adversely affected by alcohol
Repeat offenders convicted of two or more drink driving offences of any kind within a five year period
The Government is determined to drive down the number of fatalities caused by irresponsible and reckless behaviour such as drink-driving.
Until next time
Every Dollar Counts includes information on everything from the $1,000 Solar Hot Water Rebate to information about the increased first homebuyers grant for people setting up home in regional Queensland.
For more information visit the Every Dollar Counts website at www.qld.gov.au/everydollarcounts .
Seniors must remember rights when dealing with door knockers
Queensland senior residents are reminded of their consumer rights when they are approached at home by salespeople offering anything from handymen services to a new product for the household.
Selling products and services door-to-door is a legitimate way of doing business – so long as the salesperson follows the law which is in place to protect residents.
Products and services sold door-to-door may include bitumen driveway laying, house painting or washing, garden maintenance and pest control through to power or telephone services or household gadgets such as vacuum cleaners.
Door-to-door tradespeople offering any product or service must by law abide by the following rules:
Produce an identity card with the trader’s full name and address;
Provide a written contract clearly stating the breakdown of costs, including GST and the total price when the goods or services are more than $75;
Provide a 10-day cooling-off period when the goods and services are worth more than $75. During this time no payment, including deposits, can be accepted and no work can be commenced;
Provide a form outlining the consumer’s right to cancel a door-to-door contract;
Provide a form to actually make the cancellation within the cooling off period; and
Only contact customers between 9am-6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm on Saturdays. Calls on Sundays or public holidays are prohibited
The Office of Fair Trading has produced a “No door to door traders” sticker which can be affixed to your letterbox or door it you feel you do not want to be harassed at home by these people.
Members of the public can obtain a sticker or report suspicious activity of a trader to the OFT by visiting www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or calling 13 13 04.
Make the right choices in retirement
The Government would like to remind people to seek independent legal and financial advice before signing up to a retirement village scheme.
Queensland has more than 250 registered retirement village schemes and they can be a great place to unwind and enjoy retired life.
But you need to remember there are different types of retirement village schemes, each with its own set of pros and cons – so it is important to pick the right one.
Unfortunately many people moving into these schemes don’t read the fine print on contracts and find themselves with an arrangement that may not suit their needs.
Different types of accommodation in retirement village schemes include:
freehold – where the resident holds freehold title to the accommodation unit;
leasehold – where the resident’s lease is registered on the title to the retirement village land; and
licence – an unregistered contract between the resident and the operator, where the right is secured by a statutory charge over the retirement village land.
Many people don’t understand the differences between these, or the rights and obligations which arise under each scheme.
As village operators tend to make their profit on the resale of the right to reside, it is important for those moving into a retirement scheme to ensure they were clear about fees and expenses they may incur.
You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re paying out fees and expenses which you didn’t expect.
Make sure you know what the entry and ongoing fees are. Most importantly, find out what fees are payable if you leave the scheme as exit fees may be quite substantial.
For a free copy of Retire Smart visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.
For more information about retirement villages visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or Association of Residents of Queensland Retirement Villages: www.villagers.org.au
Drink drivers to be locked out
Under strict new laws, high risk drink drivers caught from August 6 will have an ‘I’ condition for ‘Interlock’ slapped on their licence.
This means they will need to install an alcohol ignition interlock in their vehicles by December 2010, on top of any disqualification period and fine.
Alcohol interlocks are breath testing devices connected to the ignition that prevent the vehicle starting with anything over a zero blood alcohol concentration.
The interlock (“I”) licence condition is an additional re-licensing requirement for drink drivers at the completion of their licence disqualification period.
At the end of a disqualification period for drink driving, drivers will have an (“I”) condition attached to their licence for a minimum of 12 months.
To get back behind the wheel, these drivers will have to install an interlock at their own expense for the 12 month period.
The interlock (“I”) condition will be mandatory for:
First time offenders (within a five year period) with a blood alcohol reading 0.15 or more, driving under the influence of liquor or failure to supply a specimen for analysis
Offenders convicted of dangerous driving when adversely affected by alcohol
Repeat offenders convicted of two or more drink driving offences of any kind within a five year period
The Government is determined to drive down the number of fatalities caused by irresponsible and reckless behaviour such as drink-driving.
Until next time
Carolyn.
