CHOICE

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“Stand up to the insurance lobby” – that’s the message of leading consumer groups as they deliver signatures of over 20,000 Australians to Parliament House in Canberra. The groups anticipate the Federal Government to act on “Unfair Contract Terms” laws this fortnight, closing a damaging loophole that has allowed insurance companies to profit by using…

Read More 20,000 Australians demand the end of unfair insurance

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CHOICE research has discovered that Australians purchasing some Silver Plus health insurance policies are losing hundreds of dollars every year. The research follows CHOICE slamming the industry for rip-off Basic policies earlier this year. “Health insurers are scamming Australians with high-cost plus policies,” says Dean Price, Health Campaigner at CHOICE. “We’ve found over 215 Silver…

Read More Health insurers are scamming Australians with high-cost plus policies

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Consumer advocate CHOICE welcomes ASIC’s announcement today that the regulator proposes to use its new Product Intervention Powers to ban harmful investment products.  “Binary options and contracts for difference are glorified gambling dressed up by financial licensees as a safe investment. With over four in five investors losing money from binary options investments, it’s clear…

Read More CHOICE welcomes the proposed ASIC ban on risky investment products

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“Stand strong against industry pressure” is the message from CHOICE CEO Alan Kirkland following Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s announcement this morning about how the government will implement the Banking Royal Commission recommendations.  “Today the Treasurer has outlined how the government will make sure that banks, insurers and mortgage brokers act fairly and provide services that…

Read More CHOICE responds to Treasurer’s Royal Commission road map announcement

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CFA’s quarterly webinar series will continue on Friday 14th June from 2-3pm AEST. The webinar will be hosted by Gerard Brody, CFA Chair and CEO of Consumer Action Law Centre, and Gemma Mitchell, Managing Solicitor at Consumer Credit Legal Service WA. Gerard and Gemma will share reflections and insights from their recent travels to Portugal for the Consumers International Summit, which…

Read More CFA Webinar Series

The Federal Government has committed to a process to fund a superannuation consumer advocate in Tuesday night’s budget. Independent consumer groups CHOICE and the Superannuation Consumers Centre (SCC) have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement to scope the permanent funding of a Superannuation Consumer Advocate but say this needs to be backed by a substantial long-term…

Read More Budget backing for superannuation consumer advocate

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CHOICE says children’s lives are being jeopardised by business ignoring button battery risk, and are calling for an overhaul of product safety laws in the wake of recent tests which show manufacturers and retailers are ignoring safety risks posed by button battery powered items. “10 out of 17 button battery powered household items failed CHOICE…

Read More Button battery safety failures

Consumer Advocates in Canberra for the release of the Royal Commission's final report

The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry has now concluded. The Final Report and the Government’s response was released to the general public on Monday afternoon, providing a road map for law reform that should deliver improved standards in the finance sector.  Many of the report’s 76 recommendations have been welcomed by consumer organisations including CHOICE, Consumer…

Read More Consumer groups respond to Royal Commission Final Report

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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…

Read More Advocates call for changes to superannuation sector

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New research from leading consumer and tenancy groups (CHOICE, National Shelter and the National Association of Tenant Organisations (NATO)) show that Australians who rent are living in fear of eviction and rent rises. The report ‘DISRUPTED: The consumer experience of renting in Australia ‘DISRUPTED: The consumer experience of renting in Australia’ surveyed Australians who rent…

Read More New report from leading consumer and tenancy group on renting in Australia

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Our health system should empower and support us to live happy and healthy lives. But increasingly, thousands of us are feeling frustrated by high-cost, low-value and overly complex health insurance policies. CHOICE research finds the majority of us don’t feel like we get value from our health insurance and are hit with high costs when…

Read More Fairer health insurance