SAVVY STUDENTS TAKE OUT BUY SMART AWARDS

Hundreds of Queensland students have taken part in the Beattie Government’s 2006 Buy Smart competition and today 21 were recognised for their creativity in teaching their peers smart consumer habits.

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech presented awards to primary and secondary school students during the official ceremony at Parliament House.

“I was very impressed by the quality of entries we received for this year’s Buy Smart competition and I commend these young Queenslanders for their hard work,” Mrs Keech said.

“This year’s awards had a focus on financial literacy with entries covering topics such as scams, refund rights, online shopping, debt, credit cards, buying a mobile phone and door-to-door sales.

“We received 236 entries from more than 400 students vying for a share of the $12,000 in prizemoney up for grabs.

“The Beattie Government’s Buy Smart initiative has been running for five years. It is designed to increase young people’s knowledge and understanding of fair trading issues to help them make smart and informed purchasing decisions.

“Young Queenslanders are becoming more and more active in the marketplace and equipping them with the knowledge on how to ‘buy smart’ is very important to ensure they don’t get ripped-off.”

Mrs Keech said students were asked to research a fair trading topic and create a relevant and fun way of delivering their consumer awareness message to their peers.

Prize winners and highly commended entrants came from schools at Rockhampton, Yatala, Kenmore, Noosaville, Mitchelton, Macgregor, Ashmore, Kingaroy, Woongoolba and Reedy Creek.

“The winning entries included consumer messages delivered through creative DVDs, school diaries, jigsaw puzzles, board-games and fashion t-shirts,” Mrs Keech said.

“This competition is a great way to inspire young people to do their homework on their consumer rights and responsibilities, to make sure they have the knowledge they need to become responsible consumers.”

The 2006 short-listed finalists received a total of $12,000 in prizemoney. Winners received $300 for students and $1500 for their school, second-placed students took home $200 and $800 for their school, third-placed students won $150 for themselves and $500 for the school and highly commended entrants received $100 for students and $200 for their school.

For more information about Buy Smart visit the Youth section of the Office of Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.

Media contacts: David Smith 3225 1005 or Sarah Seckold (Office of Fair Trading) 3119 0062

Please note: Photographs of the winning entries are available from the Office of Fair Trading. Please call 3119 0062.