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Consumer regulators have today released a report on their collaborative efforts in administering the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) over the last twelve months. The report shines a light on some of the key policy, education and enforcement activities undertaken by the members of Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) during the 2018-19 financial year,…

Read More Australian Consumer Law collaboration benefits consumers

Books on a shelf. The spines read 'LAW CASES' Books on a shelf. The spines read 'LAW CASES'

The Legal Services Council (LSC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Register that consumers can use to easily check the details of legal practitioners in NSW and Victoria. The Australian Legal Profession Register is now available via the Legal Services Council website. The Australian Legal Profession Register is a first contact point…

Read More New Australian Legal Register will Safeguard Consumers

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Two key reports released on Friday by the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) contain important findings for the industry, including: Significant concerns about the reporting of breaches under the 2013 Code of Banking Practice during 2018-19. Banks will need to continue ongoing efforts in order to meet the BCCC’s expectations and the higher standards of…

Read More Reports lead to concern about banks’ breach reporting as they transition to the 2019 Code

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The Victorian Government’s proposed changes to class action rules should enable greater access to justice and promote corporate accountability, according to Consumer Action Law Centre. The Justice Legislation Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2019, introduced to state parliament this week, will reduce barriers to class actions by allowing lawyers to receive a ‘contingency fee’, a fee that is calculated as…

Read More Victorian Government’s class action changes promote corporate accountability

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In her address, Delia Rickard noted that issues raised by consumer organisations with the ACCC commonly form part of its priorities for compliance and enforcement. Delia noted that consumer groups have recently raised issues such as funeral services, debt collection, product safety and sustainability which will be considered for future priorities. Other trends and issues identified by…

Read More ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard provides address to CFA’s annual general meeting

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Financial Counselling Australia welcomes the bill to establish the National Online Gambling Self-Exclusion Register. The Bill was introduced this week in Federal Parliament by the Minister for Communications, the Hon. Paul Fletcher.  The register means that people experiencing harm can press one button and self-exclude from all the online wagering companies. With that single trigger, the wagering operators…

Read More FCA Welcomes Gambling Self-Exclusion Register

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released its Combating Scams report which recommends new enforceable obligations on telcos and the immediate commencement of trials for a number of scam reduction initiatives. The trials aims to reduce common phone scams such as malicious ‘spoofing’, where scammers disguise their number to make it look like…

Read More ACMA recommends immediate action to combat scams

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“Stand up to the insurance lobby” – that’s the message of leading consumer groups as they deliver signatures of over 20,000 Australians to Parliament House in Canberra. The groups anticipate the Federal Government to act on “Unfair Contract Terms” laws this fortnight, closing a damaging loophole that has allowed insurance companies to profit by using…

Read More 20,000 Australians demand the end of unfair insurance

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In October 2018, Consumer Credit Legal Service WA (CCLSWA) received funding from the Consumer Protection division of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) for a 12-month law reform project. The project focused on four areas of law and policy that affect Western Australian consumers: Retirement village schemes Motor vehicle industry Australian Consumer Law with…

Read More CCLSWA releases Consumer Protection Report

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South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) today launched its report, Working to Make Ends Meet: Low-income Workers and Energy Bill Stress. The report investigates households whose main source of income is wages but who are still living below the “poverty line”. This report, based on national statistical data and South Australian case studies, is…

Read More SACOSS’ Working to Make Ends Meet Report highlights energy affordability struggles for “waged poor” households