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The Morrison Government is giving consumers more power to compare and switch providers to lower their energy bills by formally applying the Consumer Data Right regime to the energy sector. The Consumer Data Right provides consumers with greater access to their personal information, giving them the power to instruct businesses to provide safe and secure…
Read More More power to compare and switch energy providers
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The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Friday published Testing Comprehension of the Reference Price, research jointly commissioned from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). This research provides new insights about the ways consumers understand electricity offers and the AER and the ACCC will use these insights to consider how…
Read More New research shines light on how consumers understand electricity offers
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A new research report by the Consumer Policy Research Centre explores the global response to COVID-19, with nationwide survey of 1114 Australians showing people are drawing on limited resources just to make ends meet. 12 million Australians are concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on their financial wellbeing; 1 in 5 are ‘very’ concerned Almost…
Read More 1 in 4 Australians are struggling to pay for essentials such as energy, groceries and insurance, adding to existing rent and mortgage stress
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ASIC has seen a rise in the number of investment scam reports from Australian consumers and investors during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Reports of misconduct received by ASIC from March to May 2020 are up 20% compared to the same period last year. ASIC Executive Director for Assessment and Intelligence Warren Day said economic uncertainty…
Read More Rise in investment scams during COVID-19 pandemic
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A CHOICE analysis has found over 1 in 3 Australians faced more expensive essentials at the height of coronavirus. The consumer advocate has also found freezers were a key item to face steep price rises as lockdowns came into effect. CHOICE’s Consumer Pulse survey** asked respondents if “the prices for essential goods were generally higher…
Read More Coronavirus price gouging – what went wrong?
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Australians lost over $634 million to scams in 2019, according to the latest figures in the ACCC’s Targeting Scams report released today. There were more than 353,000 combined reports to Scamwatch, other government agencies and the big four banks last year. “Unfortunately it is another year with devastatingly high losses, and scammers are constantly finding…
Read More Scams cost Australians over $630 million
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The Morrison Government has directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to monitor domestic air passenger services for a period of three years. The Government has consistently said Australia’s national interest is best served through having a sustainable, competitive aviation sector. ACCC monitoring will assist in protecting competition in the domestic passenger airline market,…
Read More ACCC directed to monitor domestic air passenger services
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Consumer advocate CHOICE has written to the Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz with proposed legislation to stop price gouging on essentials during a crisis. “The past few months have shown us that in a crisis, consumer protections for Australians are the first thing to go.” says Amy Pereira, CHOICE Campaigner. “We need strong protections…
Read More CHOICE calls for urgent price gouging legislation to protect Victorians in future crises
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While many of us have already hauled out the winter woollies, electric blankets and hot water bottles, the first official day of winter is the perfect time to check they’re still safe to use. Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Dini Soulio said a number of winter warmer products may pose a safety risk if they are…
Read More Hot safety tips for consumers in cold weather
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Grocery shoppers wanting to get value for money during the current economic crisis should be using the unit price information (price per unit of measure) provided for prepackaged products by all large supermarkets. Gerard Brody, chair of the peak consumer body the Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA), says “The unit price information shown on shelf…
Read More Grocery shoppers urged to use unit prices to get better value for money during the COVID-19 economic crisis
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The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has made submissions to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) responding to authorisation applications from NBN Co, the Australian Energy Council (AEC) and Private Healthcare Australia Limited (PHA). Businesses can seek authorisation from the ACCC where conduct risks breaching competition laws but is in the public interest. While CFA…
Read More CFA responds to COVID19 cooperation proposals from NBN Co, Australian Energy Council and Private Healthcare Australia
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The Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is advising consumers wanting to make travel plans to be wary about ‘pay now/book later’ holidays in the current climate and to read the terms and conditions carefully. Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said that while regional travel restrictions may be easing, international travel restrictions were likely…
Read More Don’t rush into your next ‘pay now/book later’ getaway