On 2 September 2011 consumer and welfare groups signed an open letter to Minister Shorten offering broad support for the payday lending proposals announced in August. The letter stated:
We write in support of the direction you have taken in the proposed amendments to the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 regulating small amount contracts.
Our agencies see the detriment caused by high-cost, payday loans, and we believe that the draft legislation will provide protection for vulnerable consumers.
Some of the organisations below will be making their own detailed submissions on the substance of the draft legislation, however we provide some initial general responses below.
The letter was endorsed by the following organisations
- Consumer Action Law Centre
- Financial Counselling Australia
- PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic
- St Vincent de Paul Society,
- National Council of Australia Anglicare Victoria
- CHOICE
- Homelessness Australia
- Victorian Local Governance Association
- Kildonan UnitingCare
- Financial and Consumer Rights Council Inc
- Brotherhood of St Laurence
- Consumer Credit Legal Centre (NSW) Inc.
- Care Financial Counselling and the Consumer Law Centre of the ACT
Many more have endorsed the letter. See all supporters here.
What you can do: community organisations
Please act now to send us your endorsement of the open letter. Email info [at] consumeraction.org.au or use the button below.
If you can, please also send us a paragraph highlighting the impact of payday lending on your clients or members and the harm your organisation has seen caused by payday lending. See other organisations stories here.
Endorse the open letter to Minister ShortenWhat you can do: everyone
Show you ongoing support by signing up to receive campaign updates (top right of this page).
I am very pleased to see and support this initiative. PayDay lending and the like cause and perpetuate incredible hardship in the community amongst the most vulnerable. We now have a number of alternatives like the NILS scheme and Inroads that helps people find there way back to having a positive lending record as well as financial literacy education. Well done.