Competition and consumer issues for Indigenous Australians: A report to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission by the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, the Australian National University, Canberra

Abstract

The severe economic and social disadvantage of many Indigenous people in Australia is widely recognised, but progress to overcome it has been painfully slow. In many communities Indigenous people are still far from having equitable access to basic public services, including local amenities, education, health and housing. As a national statutory authority, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has a responsibility to ensure that it provides Indigenous people with at least the same level of effective access to its services as other groups in Australia. Since the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA) can help empower vulnerable people in their dealings with business, access to it is essential. Any serious effort to work with Indigenous people requires an appreciation and understanding of the cultural and intercultural contexts—the lived reality of many Indigenous communities. Relevant issues for the ACCC include whether the promotion of competition in any way conflicts with distinct Indigenous values and whether cultural differences should affect approaches adopted by the ACCC in promoting awareness of the TPA and in ensuring adherence to its provisions. This report on the implications of the TPA for Indigenous people was commissioned by the ACCC in light of growing awareness of the special needs of Indigenous people as a disadvantaged and culturally distinct, but also heterogeneous, group in Australian society. There has been very little research specifically on this subject. In the report, researchers from the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at the Australian National University have developed a broad conceptual framework within which to consider competition and consumer issues. They have provided specific commentaries on the role of stores in remote Indigenous communities and the Indigenous visual arts industry. While the views expressed in the report are those of the researchers and not necessarily of the ACCC, the report will be valuable in helping the ACCC, and other consumer agencies, develop future Indigenous strategies. Early phases of the research have already assisted in the development of Storecharter—a service charter serving remote and Indigenous communities and in the development of community-focused education materials. It is hoped that the report will stimulate further research in this area that is closely linked to current debates on the economic development futures of Indigenous communities and the promotion of individual rights. This research could usefully extend to cover the market experiences of Indigenous people living in urban areas. Show more