Consumers' Federation of Australia

12 May , 2021

Older Australians to benefit from Budget’s employment and super reforms; consultation needed on support payments, retirement income

Older Australians will benefit from several measures in the Federal Budget aimed at increasing workforce participation and fixing retirement incomes, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia says, but support for vulnerable groups like renters is still missing and long-term solutions are needed to ensure vulnerable Australians are adequately supported. This is a Council on the Ageing…

12 May , 2021

Federal Budget “a step towards fairer super”

Super Consumers acknowledges positive steps, with the reforms to deliver fairer super outcomes for women and additional funding for consumer advocacy “Tonight’s budget is a step towards fairer super”, says Xavier O’Halloran, director of Super Consumers Australia. “We welcome the progress made. Financial comfort in retirement is key to people’s wellbeing. Nobody should be left…

5 May , 2021

Consumer participation in the Review of the Banking Code

Calling interested consumer advocacy organisations – an opportunity to lead consumer input into the 2021 Review of the Banking Code of Practice. The Banking Code of Practice is a set of enforceable standards that customers, small businesses and their guarantors can expect from Australian Banking Association (ABA) member banks. The 2021 review will be the first major…

5 May , 2021

ME Bank named for breaches of the Banking Code

The Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) has sanctioned Members Equity Bank (ME Bank) for serious and systemic breaches of the Banking Code. The BCCC found that ME Bank’s communications to impacted customers about changes to their redraw amounts in April 2020 were poor and ineffective. The Code’s Guiding Principles require banks to be accountable and transparent in…

3 May , 2021

New guide to choosing and using mobility scooters & powered wheelchairs

Each year, over 1,000 Australians are admitted to hospital due to incidents involving mobility scooters. Almost all these injuries occur to device users, but there are also concerns about wider community safety due to the increasing use of these devices. The updated ‘Guide to choosing and using mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs’ helps consumers: Decide whether a…

3 May , 2021

LCCC Annual Industry Data and Compliance Report 2019-20

A challenging year for life insurers and their customers highlights the importance of the Code The Life Code Compliance Committee (the Committee) – the independent Committee which monitors and enforces industry compliance with the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Code) – today released its 2019–20 Annual Industry Data and Compliance Report. This is a Life…

30 April , 2021

Feedback given on the draft National Preventative Health Strategy

The Queensland Consumers Association (a member of CFA) has made a written submission on the Draft National Preventative Heath Strategy. The draft Strategy was released recently for comment and was developed following responses to a 2020 Consultation Paper, on which CFA made a submission. The Vision is: To improve the health of all Australians at…

30 April , 2021

Electricity Customers on a standing offer will share in over $65 million of bill savings

Thousands of customers on a standing offer contract across New South Wales, South-East Queensland and South Australia will share in over $65 million of bill savings in 2021-22 following the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) today releasing the final Default Market Offer (DMO). This is an Australian Energy Regulator media release, originally published on 27th April, 2021. The final…

30 April , 2021

Consultation on options for changes to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Act 1991

The federal government is consulting on a Draft Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) containing options for changes to the FSANZ Act. The draft RIS and information on how to participate in the consultation are available here. The closing date for submissions is 18 May 2021. The Act is one of the main pieces of legislation and…

28 April , 2021

Losses to car ad scams climbing

Australians have already lost over $288,000 to vehicle scams in the first quarter of this year, more than all losses reported to Scamwatch in 2019, and scammers have now begun impersonating defence personnel to con their victims. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 27th April, 2021. In a vehicle scam, scammers post fake…

28 April , 2021

Morrison Government powering up household battery recycling

The Morrison Government is helping maximise opportunities for Australia’s manufacturers while also driving down emissions and protecting the environment, with funding. This is a joint media release from Minister for the Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley MP and Federal Member for Chisholm, the Hon Gladys Liu MP, originally published on 23rd April, 2021. Batteries are…

21 April , 2021

Competition exemptions in the time of COVID-19

In a six week period from mid-March 2020, the ACCC received 33 applications for authorisation of competitor collaborations to deal with disruption and risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this unprecedented number of urgent applications, the ACCC deployed substantial resources and used streamlined processes to grant interim and final authorisations in extremely…