Consumer Rights Awareness of Young Australians

Competition and Consumer Law Journal, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 126-150, 2014

25 Pages Posted: 7 Nov 2014

See all articles by Paul Ali

Paul Ali

University of Melbourne - Law School

Malcolm Edward Anderson

Melbourne Law School; Australian Institute of Archaeology

Cosima Hay McRae

University of Melbourne - Law School

Ian Ramsay

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne

Date Written: November 7, 2014

Abstract

Although young Australians are active consumers there is little evidence about their knowledge of consumer rights. The authors report the results of a survey of 207 Australian school students aged 16-17 aimed at ascertaining their knowledge of consumer rights. Focus group interviews were also conducted with 68 students. Factors that positively affect knowledge of consumer rights are the geographic location of the school that students attended, the proportion of students at each school that spoke a language other than English, the occupation of the parents of students, and whether students discussed money matters with parents or teachers. Insights from the focus group interviews include: the existence of significant differences in students’ knowledge of consumer rights; that personal experience appears to make a difference to individual awareness of consumer rights; and that a substantial proportion of students lacked the confidence to exercise their consumer rights.

Suggested Citation

Ali, Paul and Anderson, Malcolm Edward and McRae, Cosima Hay and Ramsay, Ian, Consumer Rights Awareness of Young Australians (November 7, 2014). Competition and Consumer Law Journal, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 126-150, 2014 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2520332

Paul Ali

University of Melbourne - Law School ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 1088 (Phone)
+61 3 8344 5285 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.unimelb.edu.au

Malcolm Edward Anderson

Melbourne Law School ( email )

University of Melbourne
Parkville, 3052
Australia

Australian Institute of Archaeology ( email )

Melbourne, Victoria 3010
Australia

Cosima Hay McRae

University of Melbourne - Law School ( email )

185 Pelham Street
Carlton, Victoria 3053
Australia

HOME PAGE: http://www.unimelb.edu.au

Ian Ramsay (Contact Author)

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 5332 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/staff/ian-ramsay

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