Consumers' Federation of Australia

20 March , 2026

People in financial distress urged to seek help as interest rates rise

Today’s interest rate rise will add further pressure to Australians already struggling with housing costs and rising living expenses, with financial counsellors warning that more households may be pushed into financial distress. Demand for help is rising. In February there were?15,857 calls and online chats to the National Debt Helpline (NDH), the highest number recorded for the…

19 March , 2026

ASIC Launches Financial Complaints Data Dashboard

Australians now have unprecedented access to consumer complaints data following the launch of ASIC’s new interactive dashboard. The Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) data dashboard enables users to compare the complaints reported by individual financial firms for the first time, including their handling of complaints associated with specific products like home loans, credit cards, life and general insurance,…

9 March , 2026

World Consumer Rights Day 15 March 2026

Across the world, consumers continue to encounter unsafe, counterfeit or poor-quality products — from children’s toys and household electronics to medicines and everyday goods. World Consumer Rights Day, coordinated by Consumers International, is the only globally recognised day dedicated to promoting consumer rights and needs. This year’s theme Safe Products, Confident Consumers, calls for collective action across…

25 February , 2026

Have Your Say: Trampoline Parks

Trampoline parks are designed for a wide range of ages, from young children to adults, and are popular for fun, fitness and events designed to cater for a variety of skills. The trampolines in trampoline parks differ from domestic trampolines used in backyards across the country, both in design and patterns of use. Trampoline parks…

18 February , 2026

Consultation on Draft Unfair Trading Practices Legislation

On 9 February 2026, the federal government released for comment draft legislation on Unfair Trading Practices. The draft laws would amend the Australian Consumer Law by: · introducing a general prohibition on conduct that unreasonably manipulates consumers or distorts the environment they make decisions in, causing detriment · providing protections against unfair subscription practices, including…

5 February , 2026

New Standards Reduce Risk of Infant Death and Injury

Two new mandatory standards which aim to reduce risk of death and injury from products that babies do or may fall asleep in must be complied with by businesses from 19 January 2026. Infant sleep products have a surface for an infant to lie on. They are designed or marketed for an infant to sleep…

28 January , 2026

What’s happening with quantum technology?

Quantum technology is already making waves in computing, communications, and sensing. Last year (2025) was proclaimed by the UN as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (see highlights and video), now’s the time to understand what’s coming, and find out more in Standards Australia’s Quantum technologies fact sheet Imagine solving complex problems that would take today’s supercomputers…

27 January , 2026

Consultation Opens for Supermarket Price and Loyalty Program Transparency

The Federal Government has released a consultation paper on new requirements for supermarkets to improve transparency about prices, promotions and loyalty programs. The proposals directly respond to recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Supermarkets Inquiry, which found that current pricing and promotional practices often make it too difficult for consumers to assess value…

22 January , 2026

Karen Cox Appointed as Consumer Representative to COBCCC

The Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (COBCCC) has welcomed the appointment of Ms Karen Cox as its new Consumer Representative, bringing decades of consumer advocacy experience and deep expertise in banking reform to the Committee’s oversight of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice. Ms Cox has been appointed by the Consumers’ Federation of…

17 December , 2025

Consumer Representative Opportunity: Australian Banking Association Consumer Outcomes Group

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) is inviting suitable applicants to apply for the role of consumer representative on the Australian Banking Association Consumer Outcomes Group. The Consumer Outcomes Group is a joint bank and consumer representative forum for discussing and responding to existing and emerging issues to improve consumer outcomes in retail banking. The COG…

11 December , 2025

Important Consumer Ministerial Statement to Federal Parliament

On 26 November2025, The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury) made the first consumer ministerial statement to Parliament in 17 years. The statement, to the House of Representatives, contained information about a wide range of measures the government has taken, or plans to take, to better protect and…

4 December , 2025

International Volunteer Day 2025: ‘Every contribution matters’

International Volunteer Day (IVD) on 5 December 2025, raises awareness of the important role volunteers play in responding to challenges facing the world. The theme ‘Every contribution matters’ celebrates the power of collective action and acknowledges that every act of volunteering, big or small, contributes to a stronger and more connected world. The Day highlights…