Public Health - Consumers' Federation of Australia

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.

1 April , 2020

Information for NDIS participants on the impact of COVID-19 on NDIS services

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has a dedicated webpage for NDIS participants about COVID-19. The webpage includes information about: The impact of COVID-19 on NDIS plans Which support services and therapies will continue during the close of non-essential services Using webchat to talk with NDIA staff Who to contact if your NDIS contact is unavailable View…

31 March , 2020

“Penalties for not taking up private health cover must be suspended”: CHOICE

Consumer advocate says Lifetime Health Cover Loading should be suspended in light of COVID-19 financial pressures Consumer advocate CHOICE is calling on the Federal Government to suspend consumer penalties for not taking up private health insurance in light of the COVID-19 crisis. The advocacy group says the Government should add an extra 365 days to…

26 March , 2020

NDIS Commission releases coronavirus (COVID-19) information for participants and providers

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has produced a COVID-19 information page that contains links to updates, training, alerts and resources for NDIS participants and providers. The information is to inform and support NDIS providers to continue to deliver quality and safe supports and services to NDIS participants. The page contains the following information: Updates…

16 February , 2020

Consumer research centre releases latest report – Choosing care: the difficulties of navigating home care

The report from Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) draws on research undertaken in partnership with University of South Australia (UniSA) which surveyed 502 Home Care Package (HCP) recipients across metropolitan Australia in June and July last year. “Older Australians are being abandoned by the system, often unable to access the necessary support to live happier,…