Public Health - Consumers' Federation of Australia

22 March , 2021

Assessment of general insurer’s compliance with new code provision on family violence

The general insurance industry committed itself to new requirements relating to family violence policies from 1 July 2020. From that date all subscribers who provide retail insurance products are required to: “… have a publicly available policy about how we [the subscriber] will support you [the consumer] if you are affected by family violence. This…

22 March , 2021

Life insurance code inquiry into review of medical definitions

The Life Code Compliance Committee (the Life CCC) – the independent body that administers and enforces the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Code) – released its report on the Own Motion Inquiry (OMI) into how subscribers are meeting Code requirements on the review of medical definitions. Section 3.2 relates to the obligation that medical…

3 March , 2021

New rule helps life support customers switch and save on energy plans

Customers needing life support equipment – such as kidney dialysis machines – will find it easier and cheaper to shop around for better energy deals under a new rule announced by the Australian Energy Market Commission. This is an AEMC media release, originally published on the 25th February, 2021. The change to the National Energy…

1 February , 2021

CFA Responds to Consultation Paper on Aspirations for the Food Regulatory System

A Consultation Paper on Aspirations for the Food Regulatory System was released in November 2020 by consultants on behalf of the Food Regulation Standing Committee. The Paper is available here . It is one of the interconnected projects that are part of the food regulation reform program initiated by the Australia New Zealand Ministerial Forum…

22 December , 2020

CFA Submission on Consistency of Food Regulation

CFA’s recent submission on a consultation paper prepared by consultants on the Consistency of Food Regulatory Approaches in Australia and New Zealand identified labelling, food medicine, and health claims as the main areas of inconsistency. The submission included the following points: Labelling: The present requirements provide great scope for between jurisdiction inconsistencies in the assessment…

20 November , 2020

CFA gives feedback to the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991

CFA has provided written feedback, and participated in online workshops, on a Scoping Paper produced by consultants as part of the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The Act is one of the main pieces of legislation and agreements that make up the joint food regulatory system that operates in Australia…

5 October , 2020

CFA makes submission on development of the National Preventive Health Strategy

CFA’s submission on a consultation paper on the development of a National Preventive Health Strategy strongly supports the preparation and implementation of the Strategy. CFA agrees with the paper that: Our health system is focussed fundamentally on the treatment of illness and disease. There is a need to enhance the focus on prevention providing more…

16 September , 2020

Consultation on the development of the National Preventative Health Strategy

In June 2019, the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP announced that the Australian Government would develop a National Preventive Health Strategy. The Strategy aims to help Australians improve their health at all stages of life, through early intervention, better information, and targeting risk factors and the broader causes of health and wellbeing.…

12 May , 2020

Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19

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…

20 April , 2020

Consumers International calls for COVID-19 response to prioritise consumer protection and empowerment

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis Consumers International members in 100 countries are calling for a focus on the protection and empowerment of individuals in the marketplace based on consumer rights, and for co-ordinated strategies across nations and intergovernmental bodies to build fair, safe, resilient and sustainable economies through consumer protection. We are calling on G20…

14 April , 2020

Defending competition in the markets during COVID-19

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released the following statement urging competition authorities to use all their tools to combat the adverse consequences of COVID-19 in the markets. Under normal circumstances competition is needed in markets to keep prices low, but with the COVID-19 crisis wreaking havoc on markets the world…

7 April , 2020

ISO standards relevant to COVID-19 made free to access

International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has compiled a list of standards to support global efforts in dealing with the COVID 19 crisis. Available standards include protective gloves, lung ventilators and other medical devices, and risk management guidelines. They are freely available in read-only format here.