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An Australian Government project to reduce harmful scam activity has released its Terms of Reference. The Scam Technology Project, led by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with representation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Cyber Security Centre, will explore ways to disrupt scam activity on telco networks. Chair…
Read More Scam project underway
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The following is a transcript of the keynote address presented by Fiona Guthrie AM, Chief Executive Officer of Financial Counselling Australia, at the ACCC 2019 National Consumer Congress. Reimagining the Corporation: Why we need to change the purpose of our biggest companies INTRODUCTION I am going to begin and end this speech in the same place. And that is…
Read More Reimagining the Corporation: Fiona Guthrie’s speech to the National Consumer Congress
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The following is a media release by Andrew Leigh MP Local accommodation providers will have greater control of their own businesses under a Shorten Labor Government, making small businesses more competitive and reducing the price of a weekend away. If elected, Labor would ensure that Australia’s accommodation providers would have the ability to set their own prices so they can compete with the multinationals…
Read More Labor pledges to put Aussie hotels back in control
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Large retailers supplying high value electrical appliances and whitegoods, such as refrigerators, computers and washing machines, will be a key enforcement priority for the ACCC in 2019. “We’re concerned that many manufacturers and large retailers are not complying with consumer guarantee laws and this will be an area of renewed focus for us this year,”…
Read More ACCC 2019 focus on consumer guarantees and anti-competitive practices
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The Consumers Federation of Australia’s (CFA) submission to the Federal Government’s review of the Retail Grocery Industry (Unit Pricing) Code of Conduct calls for: Continuation of the present requirements that specified grocery retailers must provide unit pricing and that any voluntary providers must comply with the same requirements as other providers. Grocery unit prices to…
Read More CFA calls for better and more unit pricing
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The future of a federal regulation that requires large supermarkets to provide the unit price (price per unit of measure – such as per 100g and per litre) on shelf labels, etc. for packaged grocery items is being reviewed by the Federal Government. The review includes a short online consumer survey which can be accessed…
Read More Still time to have your say on unit pricing
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The following is a media release from Chris Bowen MP, Madeleine King MP and Andrew Leigh MP. A Shorten Government will protect small business by making unfair contract terms illegal and punishable with significant fines of up to $10 million. Australia’s current laws aren’t tough enough. While contracts terms that unfairly exploit a power imbalance…
Read More Labor makes unfair contract terms illegal
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Consumer Affairs Australia New Zealand (CAANZ) are consulting on the meaning of ‘unsafe’ and ‘reasonable durability’ contained in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) consumer guarantees. This follows a recommendation of the 2017 Final Report of the Review of the ACL – the review found that the lack of clarity of the meaning of ‘unsafe’ and…
Read More Consultation: Meaning of ‘unsafe’ and ‘reasonable durability’ in Australian Consumer Law
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Following the Review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and the Productivity Commission Report into ACL Administration and Enforcement, Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) released a new tool to help consumers monitor the implementation of various recommendations. The tool, to be updated quarterly, will provide information as to progress. The January 2019 update is now available…
Read More January Update: ACL Review Implementation Tracking Calendar
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People will be hundreds of thousands of dollars worse off in retirement if the Federal Government doesn’t act now to stop the superannuation sector eroding savings. Today the Productivity Commission has released its plan to reverse the outdated structure that has led to poor performing funds, multiple accounts and zombie insurance policies. Fixing these problems…
Read More Advocates call for changes to superannuation sector
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The Essential Services Commission determines the maximum surcharge that can be collected when someone pays for a taxi using any method other than cash. The ESC is now reviewing this surcharge. Non-cash payment transactions include those made by credit card, charge card, and debit card. Cabcharge cards and dockets are also considered non-cash payment methods.…
Read More Victorian regulator consults on maximum taxi surcharges
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The Queensland Consumers Association says a major UK report on “loyalty penalties” (charging existing customers more than new ones) just released is very relevant to Australian consumers and the nation’s consumer protection and empowerment policies and practices. Association spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says “loyalty penalties” are also a major problem for Australian consumers and this UK…
Read More Australia can learn from UK report on “loyalty penalties”