Regulator news - Consumers' Federation of Australia

8 August , 2022

Pram and stroller safety essentials

The recommended pram and stroller safety essentials are the AS/NZS 2088 label on the item, a sturdy frame, a five-point harness and a tether strap, according to the Australian Parenting website. Standards Australia recently published the revised AS 2088:2022 Prams and strollers – Safety requirements which provides manufacturers, authorities, and others with minimum safety requirements for prams and…

8 August , 2022

Consumer Check-in: Expectations in 2022

ACCAN recently commissioned research asking the Australian public about their top concerns when it comes to their communications services. This is a media release from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). It was originally published on 27th July, 2022. We surveyed nearly 1000 (n=998) Australians on a range of topics. We asked people about the affordability and…

8 August , 2022

How ‘bad credit’ lender Cigno has dodged ASIC’s grasp

Cigno is exactly the sort of business the Australian Securities and Investments Commission had in mind when it asked for stronger powers to ban the sale of harmful financial products. This is a news item from The Conversation. It was originally published on 5th August, 2022. If you are experiencing financial hardship contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800…

20 July , 2022

Battery storage for households – Public comment invited on draft standard

With rising energy prices, home battery storage offers savings to consumers and an alternate to fossil fuels, read more here. Standards Australia has released a draft standard for public comment which will ensure consumers are provided with the information to meaningfully compare different battery manufacturers claims (and technologies). It defines standard testing protocols revealing the performance…

20 July , 2022

Catriona Lowe nominated as ACCC deputy chair

Former Consumers’ Federation of Australia chairperson, and long-time consumer rights advocate Catriona Lowe has been nominated as Deputy Chairperson of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). This was written with information taken from a Government News post published on 14th July, 2022. Ms Lowe is due to take up the role on 27 January 2023.…

8 July , 2022

ASIC helps credit providers protect victims of family violence

ASIC has adopted a temporary no-action position to enable large banks (‘eligible licensees’) to withhold the reporting of certain credit information on consumer credit reports where reporting the information could lead to consumer harm, including where a consumer may be the victim of family violence. This is a media release from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).…

14 June , 2022

“Volatile, complex and high-risk”: CHOICE calls for stronger crypto consumer protections

Consumer group CHOICE has released new data from a nationally representative survey of consumers that shows more than 1 in 9 Australians (12%) have purchased crypto such as Bitcoin or Ethereum in the past 12 months. This is a media release from CHOICE. It was originally published on 31st May, 2022. Read a longer CHOICE article on cryptocurrency.…

14 June , 2022

Consumer awareness growing around carbon credentials

A CHOICE survey reveals that consumers notice carbon claims and they sometimes influence purchase decisions. But how reliable are they? Need to know New data shows consumers are increasingly taking note of businesses’ carbon credentials But uncertainty remains for some people around whether to trust carbon neutral claims Significant numbers of consumers are factoring carbon…

5 May , 2022

Qantas’s flight credits policy is “unfair and unworkable”: CHOICE

Australian travellers are growing increasingly frustrated with Qantas as restrictions ease across the country and travel begins again. This is a media release from CHOICE. It was originally published on 12th April, 2022. CHOICE spokesperson, Dean Price, said that Qantas was placing unreasonable barriers in the way of travellers trying to redeem their credits or get a refund.…

12 April , 2022

Consumer Guarantees – reimaging redress for consumers

Consumer groups welcomed the consultation on improving the effectiveness of the consumer guarantee and supplier indemnification provisions under the Australian Consumer Law. Ideally, under the Australian Consumer Law, products and services come with a guarantee that they are of acceptable quality, safe with no faults and fit-for-purpose. And when these are not met, consumers are…

1 April , 2022

ACCAN Board announces Andrew Williams as CEO

The board of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) today announced that Andrew Williams has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer for the organisation. “Following an executive search process, the board has determined that Acting CEO Andrew Williams is the best person to lead ACCAN forward as CEO,” said ACCAN Chair Deirdre O’Donnell. This…

18 March , 2022

Global alliance calls for regulation of harmful buy now, pay later industry

CHOICE has joined consumer groups from 9 countries, including Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA), calling for urgent action on buy now, pay later (BNPL) credit providers as new data shows many Australians are struggling with this form of debt. This is a media release from CHOICE. It was originally published on 17th March, 2022. The global statement…