money, bills, calculator-256312.jpg
The ACCC is urging consumers to shop around or at least to contact their electricity provider to ask if a cheaper electricity plan is available, following a decline in retail electricity prices in 2024 that many households are not currently benefiting from. More than 80 per cent of Australian households in the National Electricity Network…
Read More Electricity Inquiry finds no reward for loyalty
Post thumbnail
CHOICE responds to the Federal Government’s announcement releasing the draft Aviation Customer Rights Charter for public consultation. Quotes attributable to Rosie Thomas, Director of Campaigns at CHOICE: “CHOICE welcomes the release of a proposed Aviation Customer Rights Charter. The announcement is an important step towards giving consumers clear rights when flights don’t go to plan.”…
Read More Aviation Charter of Rights needs more to take off: CHOICE
News
With the end of the year many of us are taking leave, but the consumer world never stops and, especially for product safety purposes (or to make sure the consumer voice is heard in consultations), it can be important to keep an eye out for news. Below are some websites which may have important consumer…
Read More Resources for Consumer News, Safety, and Emergency Services
2024 has been a busy year for CFA with the departure of longstanding Chair Gerard Brody and Deputy Chair Chandni Gupta. Following Gerard’s resignation, Dr Gareth Downing has taken on the role of Chair, with Gordon Renouf stepping back into the role of Deputy Chair at the recent CFA AGM. We’d like to take this…
Read More Consumers’ Federation of Australia: End of Year Message
SALE
-50%
The ACCC has conducted a sweep of sales advertising by Australian businesses online and in store and is concerned that a number of claims about the size and scope of discounts may be misleading consumers. This follows consumer reports about a range of concerns during the recent Black Friday sales period about the veracity of…
Read More ACCC Black Friday Sweep Finds Concerning Number of Misleading Claims
Post thumbnail
Microplastics are filling up our oceans, turning up everywhere from Antarctic ice sheets to the depths of ocean trenches. Unfortunately it is very hard to quantify the amount of microplastics entering our oceans, as these tiny particles are hard to track, what we do know is that any amount of these plastics can be dangerous…
Read More New Microplastics Standard Open for Comment
Post thumbnail
Electronic identification tags for animals serve as a vital tool in managing pets and in reuniting lost pets with their owners. Electronic identification tags for animals are small (RFID) devices (microchips) with unique identification numbers that when implanted in dogs, cats or other pet animals are used to identify the animals, the owners, and the property address…
Read More Tracing Your Pets and Animals – Draft Open for Comment
Decorative judgement scale and gavel placed on desk in light lawyer office against window
HSBC Bank Australia Limited (HSBC Australia) failed to adequately protect customers scammed out of millions of dollars, according to documents filed by ASIC in the Federal Court today. ASIC alleges HSBC Australia failed to have adequate controls in place to prevent and detect unauthorised payments and failed to comply with its obligations to investigate customer…
Read More Win for Consumers and Advocates as ASIC Sues HSBC Australia, Alleges “widespread and systemic” failings
Consumer Protection
Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand Consumer Affairs Ministers met on Tuesday 10 December 2024 to renew their commitment to strengthen consumer protections across the country. Ministers attending the meeting, chaired by Commonwealth Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, acknowledged the substantial progress on key reforms to the Australian Consumer Law over the past year, including work to strengthen…
Read More Consumer Affairs Ministers Set 2025 Agenda, Consumer Protection to remain at the forefront
A small plant sprouts in soil inside a light bulb, symbolizing eco-friendly and sustainable growth.
The past decade has been the warmest on record, and extreme weather has become routine in many nations, disrupting lives and livelihoods. At the same time, biodiversity loss and pollution are posing a growing threat to planetary and human health. It is increasingly clear that the impact of these crises is not just environmental, but economic and social too and is undermining progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To remain within planetary boundaries, we will need…
Read More Just Transition to Sustainable Living to be the focus of the international consumer movement
feedback
Public comment and submission is now open for the Victorian Bar, Western Australian Bar, and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand’s proposed Professional Standards Schemes. A professional standards scheme is a legal instrument that limits the occupational liability or damages that can be awarded against a member of the association to whom a scheme applies.…
Read More Bar and Accounting Professional Standards Schemes Open for Comment and Submissions
Post thumbnail
Today (5 December) the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services will release its long-awaited report from the inquiry into the Financial Services Regulatory Framework in Relation to Financial Abuse, which commenced in April 2024. Members of the Economic Abuse Reference Group, a national network of over 50 community organisations that work with government…
Read More Community Advocates Welcome Government Report on Financial Abuse
