Euroconsumers, a group of five Consumers International members, have launched a declaration calling for consumers to be given greater control over their personal data and greater access to the benefits the data produces. As data rapidly becomes the world’s greatest commodity, the group of consumer organisations want to see consumers playing a key role in [...]
Automated vehicles that do not require human driver input into the driving task for at least part of the journey are expected to arrive on our roads from around 2020. Currently there is no explicit regulation covering these automated driving functions. Manufacturers are aiming to ensure automated driving functionality improves road safety, but this technology [...]
Consumer advocates have responded to the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Energy Market (Finkel Review), which was handed down last week. Energy Consumers Australia CEO Rosemary Sinclair said the Finkel Panel had developed a framework to address the affordability, system security and emissions reduction challenges we are facing in an orderly, measured and coordinated way. [...]
The International Organization for Standardization (IOS) has published a new standard for Sustainable Procurement - ISO 20400 Sustainable procurement. The standard applies to the purchasing decisions made by organisations when they choose suppliers. It ensures that a company’s suppliers behave ethically, that the products and services purchased are sustainable and capable of meeting organisation and [...]
An exploratory survey of Australian grocery shoppers has shown that almost all reported that they use unit pricing to some degree to make value comparisons between products, and most said they use unit pricing frequently and for several types of value comparisons. The on-line survey of 104 members/supporters of Choice (Australian Consumers Association) was conducted [...]
National Volunteer Week is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia, and provides an opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in our community. Consumers’ Federation of Australia thanks the volunteer representatives on the CFA Standards Project for their time and expertise in the development of Australian Standards which makes the world a [...]
The Minister Responsible for Consumer Affairs, The Hon Michael McCormack, last week announced a product safety boost for children's nightwear. The Minister accepted the recommendation of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that the safety standard should be updated. “The most important role I have as Minister Responsible for Consumer Affairs is to ensure [...]
Consumers' Federation of Australia is now seeking nominations for a consumer representative on the Life Code Compliance Committee ('Life CCC').
Consumer Affairs Victoria is asking for feedback to help shape the laws that control how Victorians buy and sell property. A new options paper presents a range of possible reforms to modernise and improve Victoria’s 55-year-old Sale of Land Act 1962 (the Act). “Victoria’s property market is booming, and it’s essential the Sale of Land [...]
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is seeking views on the proposed acquisition of Woolworths Limited’s (Woolworths) network of retail service station sites by BP Australia Pty Ltd (BP). Together with the proposed acquisition, BP proposes to enter into an ongoing retail convenience, shopper docket discount and customer loyalty partnership with Woolworths. The ACCC’s [...]
CHOICE says global companies need to stop pushing consumers into signing off on long, unreadable online contracts Consumers' Federation of Australia member CHOICE is calling on the Federal Government to stop companies from forcing consumers to accept tens-of-thousands of words of complex requirements, just to use a product, after a review of e-reader terms and [...]
Consumers want improvements to online grocery selling sites Online food and grocery sellers in Australia should make it much easier for shoppers to compare the value of items on their websites, says CFA member Queensland Consumers Association. QCA spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says online grocery sellers can best do this by providing the unit price (price [...]
