Everyday Consumer - Consumers' Federation of Australia

14 January , 2019

January Update: ACL Review Implementation Tracking Calendar

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…

10 January , 2019

Advocates call for changes to superannuation sector

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 Today the Productivity Commission has released its plan to reverse the outdated structure that has led to poor performing funds, multiple accounts and zombie insurance policies.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…

9 January , 2019

Victorian regulator consults on maximum taxi surcharges

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.…

7 January , 2019

Australia can learn from UK report on “loyalty penalties”

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…

10 December , 2018

Consumers welcome changes to federal review of grocery unit pricing

Consumer organizations have welcomed the federal government’s decision today to extend until 28 February the consultation period for the review of grocery unit pricing previously due to close on 18 December. The Queensland Consumers Association (QCA), the Consumers Federation of Australia (the peak body of Australian consumer groups) and Choice had all asked for the…

5 December , 2018

Scam Technology Project to address proliferation of scams

The ACMA has established a Scam Technology Project to explore practical technical solutions to address the proliferation of scam calls over Australian telecommunications networks. ‘Scam calls are more than a nuisance. They pose a real threat, particularly to those in vulnerable circumstances such as older people,’ said ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin. “This project will investigate…

5 December , 2018

Pricing it right

New unit pricing standard empowers consumers Consumers have been equipped with a new tool making buying decisions easier with products now able to be compared on a fairer level, thanks to an international effort spearheaded by Australian experts including Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) representative Ian Jarratt. The recently published International Standard, ISO 21041:2018, Guidance on…

28 November , 2018

Government calls on business to exempt vulnerable consumers from paper billing fees

The Morrison Government is calling on businesses to take action to promote their exemption programs for paper billing fees to reduce the number of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers paying fees to receive paper bills. At the recent Legislative and Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs, Ministers from the Commonwealth, states and territories agreed to provide a…

23 November , 2018

NSW Retirement Village Shake Up

Retirement village residents and their families will be better protected under new legislation that has passed Parliament. Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the NSW Coalition implemented a number of reforms recommended by Kathryn Greiner AO, following her independent inquiry into the retirement village sector last year. “For too long, retirees and their families…

22 November , 2018

Have your say on Grocery Unit Pricing

The Morrison Government wants to hear from people and retailers whether the requirement to display the unit price of grocery staples, together with the “headline” price, needs reconsideration, before the current law lapses in October 2019. Those grocery retailers that are subject to the Retail Grocery Industry (Unit Pricing) Code of Conduct (the Code) must…

8 November , 2018

Consumers call on Aldi to improve shelf labels

The Queensland Consumers Association is calling on Aldi to made the unit prices on its supermarket “new look” shelf labels much more prominent and legible. Association spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says the unit prices on the new labels being widely introduced are much less easy for consumers to notice and read than those on the old…

3 November , 2018

Standards for the sharing economy

The sharing economy connects consumers to people who have products or services to sell, hire or lease via an online platform. It includes services such as Airbnb and Uber. An ISO International Workshop Agreement (IWA) aims to provide the foundation on which more standardisation solutions to support the sharing economy can be built. ISO COPOLCO supported the development of…