Report - Consumers' Federation of Australia

18 February , 2019

Changes to communications landscape accelerating

Australians’ ever-increasing appetite for data-hungry video services is transforming the communications landscape. This is a key finding of the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Communications report 2017–18, tabled in federal parliament today. The annual ACMA report examines the current telecommunication and media environment, including the latest in industry innovations and consumer trends. ‘Over 50 per…

7 February , 2019

NBN speeds mostly steady, but improvements needed

Fixed-line NBN customers received generally good levels of service during the latest round of ACCC broadband speed tests, but some consumers experienced a dip in speeds. The ACCC’s latest Measuring Broadband Australia report, released today, expands the number of retail service providers (RSPs) to include Dodo, iPrimus and Exetel, enabling the report to cover a…

6 February , 2019

Consumer groups respond to Royal Commission 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…

25 January , 2019

Australian Law Reform Commission report released

The Australian Law Reform Commission’s final report into class action proceedings and third-party litigation funders has been publicly released after being tabled in Federal Parliament. The report is expected to stimulate debate amongst consumer advocates, the legal profession, the business sector, and across the wider community, on the issues raised by the report. In announcing…

7 January , 2019

Australia can learn from UK report on “loyalty penalties”

The Queensland Consumers Association says a major UK report on “loyalty penalties” (charging existing customers more than new ones) just released is very relevant to Australian consumers and the nation’s consumer protection and empowerment policies and practices. Association spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says “loyalty penalties” are also a major problem for Australian consumers and this UK…

29 November , 2018

Banks’ compliance, monitoring and reporting deficient, report finds

Banks breached their Code of Banking Practice 10,123 times in 2017–18, according to a Banking Code Compliance Monitoring Committee (CCMC) report released today. The CCMC said these self-reported breaches of the Banking Code affected more than 3.4 million people, costing them more than $95 million. However, these impacts are likely to be significantly understated. The number…

26 November , 2018

Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee releases Annual Report

The Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (the Committee) released its Annual Compliance Report today. A copy can be downloaded here. The Committee welcomes an increase in self reporting of breaches of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (the Code). However, many of those who subscribe to the Code still have work to do to achieve good…

17 October , 2018

Phone and internet complaints turning a corner

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has published its 2017-2018 Annual Report today (17 October 2018). Launching the report, Ombudsman Judi Jones said, “The number of complaints about telecommunications services in Australia appear to be turning a corner. “Declining complaints across all landline, mobile and internet services are a positive indicator of recent industry, government and regulator efforts…

25 September , 2018

Busy start for life insurance compliance body

The Life Code Compliance Committee has released its inaugural Annual Report today. A copy of the accompanying media release can be found here. The Committee independently monitors subscribing insurers’ compliance with good industry practice, as set out in the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Code). The Committee’s key purpose is to help…

13 September , 2018

Competition Policy and Human Services: Where Theory Meets Practice

CHOICE and ACOSS’ research report Competition Policy and Human Services: Where Theory Meets Practice was released on Thursday 13th September 2018. The report assessed two areas of human service where various combinations of choice, contestability and competition have been significant in recent years – vocational education and training (VET) and employment services. It examined outcomes achieved,…

1 August , 2018

Brokers need formal qualifications and on-the-job training, inquiry finds

Formal education provides a solid foundation for professional practice but alone does not give staff the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to provide services competently, according to an inquiry undertaken by the Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee (the Committee). The inquiry found that staff needed to supplement their educational qualifications with on-the-job support and experience to develop…

12 July , 2018

Consumer advocates welcome ACCC Final Report on electricity market

Consumer advocates have welcomed the findings of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry Final Report, released yesterday. Energy Consumers Australia Acting CEO Lynne Gallagher said the final report confirms what consumers have been saying: that the electricity market is not working as it should and not delivering good value for…