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Do Not Knock campaign gaining momentum
Date : 12 Feb 2010
The Do Not Knock campaign initiated by the Consumer Action Law Centre is gaining momentum due to collaboration between several community legal centres and Victoria Legal Aid.
The campaign was instigated late last year by the Footscray Community Legal Centre, which was aware of the pressures that door-to-door sales people were placing upon local residents, especially newly-arrived refugees and migrants.
‘The problems caused by door-knockers can be just horrendous,’ said Denis Nelthorpe, manager of the Footscray Community Legal Centre. ‘And for people with little or no knowledge of their rights it’s just a nightmare.’
The campaign includes Do Not Knock stickers and brochures designed and printed by VLA and distributed through community legal centres in Footscray, Springvale and Fitzroy. There are English and Vietnamese versions of the campaign material.
‘The stickers can give some respite from door-knockers,’ said Mr Nelthorpe. ‘One resident said that when door-knockers see the sticker on her door they turn around and walk off. The resident was getting two to three door-knockers a week.
‘Also, the Essential Services Commission has been telling power companies that they should advise their door-to-door sales staff to abide by the Do Not Knock sticker. I think some of the companies are doing this.’
Mr Nelthorpe said that there was now interest in the campaign from councils and community legal centres in Essendon, Moonee Valley and Richmond.
VLA’s involvement in the campaign has included work by its graphic designers, community legal education co-ordinators, and its community legal centre funding program.
The City of Maribyrnong backed the Footscray Community Legal Centre campaign by distributing its own Do Not Knock stickers to every household in the municipality last November.