Member News

At our last meeting it was discussed that we should be contacting current affairs programs to share our frustration with the lack of response from government bodies and hopefully put some pressure on them or at the least clean up our industry.

This is a draft copy below which would be supported by letters from irate Chinese opal customers and government bodies.

We welcome any comments/suggestions you might like to make in regards to this

THREAT TO AUSTRALIA’S OPAL INDUSTRY

The opal association has been very concerned with the amount of synthetic/imitation opal that has been flooding the Australian in bound tourist market. This mainly concerns the one million Chinese tourists who are spending tens of millions on opal only to be sold un- natural stones/jewellery which are made over seas. Our opal industry and Australia is not benefiting from this business but it can only get a bad reputation when the customers realize they have been cheated. Sample letter from irate customer attached.

The inbound tourist market is well controlled by the operators who take on average 50 % commissions  on opal sales and some are asking 65% .Other Australian products like wool ect pay around 15%  so our industry has been targeted as the main revenue income for inbound tour operators. We believe this causes massive deceit by the tour  operators on their customers as this business model cant survive with out implying the stock they are selling is natural Australian opal . We believe that the tour companies sell there tours cheaply and have picked on our opal industry to get high kick backs by deceit. Some shops are closed to outsiders and in some instances only those on the controlled bus can enter.. This is a industry closed only to those who give secret commissions and who deceive there customers.While synthetic/man made opals are the main problem there is also composite opals[natural stones joined together} being passed off as solid stones for high prices.

We have contacted the ACCC .Austrade, Qld fair trading and had a meeting with the trade  and tourism minister Steven Ciobo. While they recognize and are aware of the problem the main comment they have is they feel there is enough laws to control the  description of opals. We were involved with Qld fair trading in helping prosecute one Qld company which we believe got a $10,000 fine but still continue the practice of deceit to their customers.

Correspondence from Qld fair trading  would be attached.

What we are seeking is federal legislation to have proper and clear opal description’s on the items and invoices to protect our industry and the customer.

Kind Regards

Paul Sedawie

President of the Opal Association

OPAL ASSOCIATIONS NEWSLETTER JULY 2017

It’s time to re- new your membership however our PayPal site has been frozen for online payments-we will try to rectify the situation in a week but if not possible we will make other arrangements .

For those who don’t want to use the internet system you can send a cheque to

Opal Association

Po Box 323

Mermaid Waters

Qld 4218

DISCUSSION ON THE OPAL NOMENCLATURE

There will be a meeting in the Lightning Ridge Bowling club at 10 am for discussions on the opal nomenclature. This will be held on the 31 July-the day after the opal show.

There will also be time at the AGM on the Gold Coast Show.

Recent emails received in the opal association site.

Disclaimer Note -We forward all emails received for the Opal association to all members as a matter of course. This does not mean we support or endorse the product /message and suggest members do their own due diligence and checking

From: Deb Phipps <[email protected]>

Subject: Opals to sell

Message Body:

Hi, my parents were given about 50 opals by a miner 50 years ago. They would like to sell them but don’t know where to begin. Our local jewellers can’t offer a great deal of assistance. We live in Sydney. Could you give us a place to start please?

Kind regards,

Deb Phipps

0419 505 122

From: Patrick Black <[email protected]>

Subject: Interested in mining

Message Body:

Hi

I have for a long time been interested in opal mining and valuations.

I would like to know how I get started.

Is there anyone I can contact?

Thanks

Patrick

BODY TONE POSTERS

The opal association printed out some body tone posters but we have just opened the box and found the printing colour is to light-the printer has agreed to re print them so we can give these out for free at opal shows.

Yours sincerely

Paul Sedawie

President of the Opal Association

http://www.opal.asn.au/opal/