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Government minister David Littleproud has defended his rent-to-buy business, as Labor sought to step up pressure over payday lender ripoffs. Mr Littleproud, a first-term Queensland MP appointed as minister for agriculture and water last year, owns a firm called Mr Rental Southern Downs. It offers goods on a rent-to-buy basis, which Labor MP Meryl Swanson claimed in parliament on Monday meant a customer could end up paying $8000 for a $1900 laptop computer. "Are you concerned, minister? You should be," Ms Swanson said. In response to the claim, Mr Littleproud said the lease agreement on which those figures are based provides an opportunity for customers to upgrade a product. "If you want to cast aspersions on my character in this way, for God's sakes come with policy and something that will change Australians' lives and stop the character assassination of those who are trying to make Australia better," he said. Mr Littleproud told parliament he was a "proud business owner" and employer of four people. "I am proud to say I ... provide a service for those that are less fortunate than you and that can't afford to buy a fridge or a TV," he said. Newly appointed Nationals leader Michael McCormack introduced legislation last year to cap the total payments on consumer leases and require all small amount credit contracts to have equal repayments and payment intervals. But Labor's consumer affair spokesman Tim Hammond told parliament on Monday, despite bipartisan support, nothing had progressed. In the meantime, people are being trapped in a spiral of debt, the result of a circle of payday loans or rent-to-buy schemes, he said, introducing identical legislation. "The government quite frankly has a choice, Mr Speaker, to show some leadership, to step up and vote for their own bill," Mr Hammond said. The bill would also ban loan providers charging residual monthly fees when a consumer repays the loan early, and strengthen penalties as an incentive for providers and lessors to comply with the law. Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer told parliament the government had conducted a review and accepted most of its recommendations, which led to legislation being released. "While they might talk about all of things ... it is us who are acting," Ms O'Dwyer said. Australian Associated Press

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