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NBN speeds and performance declined as Australians followed social distancing instructions to stay home due to COVID-19, but picked up following measures by NBN Co and streaming providers. The ACCC today released its first new monthly Measuring Broadband Australia report which tracks NBN network performance from February to April 2020. The report shows a recovery in network…
Read More NBN speeds recover after COVID-19 demand
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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
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Scamwatch has received over 2000 coronavirus-related scam reports with over $700 000 in reported losses since the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Common scams include phishing for personal information, online shopping, and superannuation scams. Visit Scamwatch for details on how scammers target consumers and tips to protect yourself. If you have been scammed or have seen…
Read More Scammers use COVID-19 to take advantage of consumers across Australia
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The ‘Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19’ has been released by 13 aged care peak bodies and consumer advocacy organisations. The Code creates a nationally consistent approach that ensures residents can receive visitors while minimising the risk of spreading COVID-19. Click here to download the Code. The Code, a suggestion of…
Read More Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19
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Many Australians are facing exceptional financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to need the support and assistance of their bank to help them deal with its impacts. The 2019 Banking Code of Practice provides safeguards and protections for banks’ individual and small business customers and includes many obligations which require banks…
Read More Banking Code: The Compliance Committee’s approach to consumer protection
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The Queensland Office of Fair Trading warns of employment opportunity scams in the following media release. COVID-19 has unleashed literally hundreds of scams across Australia and the next ones the Queensland Office of Fair Trading wants consumers to watch out for are employment opportunity scams. Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said scammers hiding behind…
Read More Consumers urged to look out for employment opportunity scams in the wake of COVID-19
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The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA), the peak body for consumer groups nationally, has made two submissions to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) responding to authorisation applications from Australia’s banks and supermarkets. Businesses can seek authorisation from the ACCC where conduct risks breaching competition laws but is in the public interest. More than…
Read More Consumers’ Federation of Australia responds to COVID19 cooperation proposals from banks & supermarkets
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Australian Banking Association says Australian banks will issue a record number of debit cards (Mastercard or VISA debit) to customers who don’t have them and who may be self-isolating to make sure they can continue to pay for their goods and services online or over the phone throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently there are over…
Read More Record issuance of debit cards to help isolated or vulnerable customers
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The Australian public is attracted by the idea of using technology to assist tracing contacts of people diagnosed with COVID-19. A proximity logging app is proposed. The Australian public, along with scientists and researchers around the world, is also very concerned about gifting future governments the power to impose contact tracing on the populace through…
Read More How to earn public trust before the Contact Tracing App: Australian Privacy Foundation
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Petrol retailers should not use the current pandemic to further increase profits, which the latest ACCC petrol industry report shows have risen in recent years, and should pass on the full benefit of falling oil prices to motorists, the ACCC has said. Weekly average international crude oil prices have decreased by around US$ 50 per barrel since…
Read More Petrol retailers should reduce their prices in line with falls in international petrol prices: ACCC
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Consumer advocate CHOICE is urging Australian banks to go further in their response to COVID-19, flagging that many Australians are still being harmed by high cost credit cards, personal loans and long term debt. “We welcome that many banks have announced initial support packages for customers but we know they can go further. We have…
Read More “Banks need to go further on their coronavirus response”: CHOICE
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NBN Co announced on Friday it will establish a $150 million financial relief and assistance fund to help internet providers to support their residential and small and medium business customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The relief fund, created following a short industry consultation led by NBN Co, is aimed at helping internet providers connect…
Read More NBN Co creates $150 million COVID-19 relief and assistance package