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The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has updated its online comparative reporting tool, the AFCA Datacube, to include information about all financial complaints lodged with it from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. This allows historical comparison with complaints data from AFCA’s inception on 1 November 2018. The AFCA Datacube allows anyone to see how…

Read More AFCA Datacube updated with latest complaint statistics

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The consumer peak body, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA), strongly welcomes the start of a new national consumer education campaign aimed at increasing grocery shopper awareness and use of the unit prices provided on shelf labels and the internet by many grocery retailers. The campaign is being run by the national and state/territory consumer…

Read More CFA welcomes start of a national education campaign to help grocery shoppers get better value for money

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In June 2019, the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP announced that the Australian Government would develop a National Preventive Health Strategy. The Strategy aims to help Australians improve their health at all stages of life, through early intervention, better information, and targeting risk factors and the broader causes of health and wellbeing.…

Read More Consultation on the development of the National Preventative Health Strategy

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South Australians will be better protected from unscrupulous payday lenders and those offering consumer leases, under draft legislation tabled in State Parliament on Friday. Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said there was a pressing need to act to protect South Australians from payday loan sharks as discussions on a nationwide approach have gone nowhere.  Last year all…

Read More SA takes the lead on unscrupulous payday lenders

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Country of origin labelling (CoOL) lets consumers know which country a product came from. The Federal Government developed a discussion paper to consider if labels are helping consumers make more informed choices and clarifying the origin claims that businesses can make. In summary, we recommend that: Requirements under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information…

Read More CFA makes submission to Evaluation of Country of Origin Food Labelling

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CFA is represented on the NDIS industry reference group and has made a submission to a consultation paper on support coordination. Support coordination is a type of funded intermediary that can assist NDIS participants access other services funded by the NDIS. This submission argues: There needs to be a stronger conceptual foundation for the role…

Read More CFA makes a submission to NDIS consultation on support coordination

Cadbury chocolate bars Cadbury chocolate bars

Consumers’ Federation of Australia member CHOICE has priced national brand groceries at Coles, Woolwoths and Aldi. Read CHOICE’s article to see where to find products for the cheapest price and how to use unit pricing to check which pack size ofers the best value for money. Our price survey found that products from national brands…

Read More Cadbury, Coca Cola, Colgate. Which supermarket is cheapest for national brands?

A receipt for grocery items. In the background are grocery items A receipt for grocery items. In the background are grocery items

In the latest edition of the ISO Consumer Update, Consumers International says consumer advocacy has a vital role to play in guiding, advising and informing consumers to ensure they can access a fair and affordable market for essential products and services. The Update also refers to a recent guest blog on CI’s website about: How…

Read More ISO standard on unit pricing relevant to consumers affected by the COVID-19 economic crisis

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The Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) will be able to establish and operate a national scheme for managing expired batteries under an authorisation granted by the ACCC. BSC was formed in 2018 with the primary goal of establishing a battery stewardship scheme in Australia that would see a significant increase in battery collections and recycling. Batteries…

Read More Voluntary battery stewardship scheme granted authorisation

windmills in the distance on a field of grass windmills in the distance on a field of grass

Consumers are more aware of environmental issues than ever before and feeling anxious about the state of the planet. There are many opportunities to contribute to global projects working on improving the environment. You can help find out how much plastic pollution there is globally by uploading images of pollution when you see it –…

Read More What can I do about improving the environment?