Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts and Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams met with various groups on Tuesday, March 5 as well as with flood affected residents of the North Shore, among other commitments.
The pair made an appearance at Gardens Retirement Village in Parker Street, Port Macquarie to discuss contracts for residents.
This was followed by a Leadership Lunch at Port Macquarie Panthers for the new school captains from each of the local high schools.
Minister Roberts was the guest speaker and talked about REVs, mobile phones and top 10 consumer tips for students.
The MPs then inspected flood damage on the North Shore and met a number of residents of Shoreline Drive.
They warned residents not to use unlicensed tradespeople to carry out repairs to houses.
“Following events like we have witnessed during the past couple of weeks, itinerant tradespeople often come through offering to do work on the cheap.
“In times such as these, as the community pulls together, there will always be a few opportunists out to take advantage,” Mrs Williams said.
“Itinerant tradespeople are often quick to the scene after a significant storm or flood.
“They approach people who are in a vulnerable state and offer a range of services, but work is either not done or done shoddily and the repairer is quick to leave town once they’ve pocketed the money.
“For any property repair work, first check with Fair Trading that the contractor has the appropriate licence,” Mrs Williams said.
Trade licences can be checked online at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or call 13 32 20.
“If you are approached by unlicensed tradespeople, report it immediately to Fair Trading.”
Mrs Williams said roofs fitted with solar panels can generate an electrical current, regardless of whether or not the electrical supply from the state grid has been turned off, particularly if the roof has tree branches down or damaged by other storm debris.
