The top 5 Australian Consumer News Stories that have been prominent in the media this week include:
- According to SBS, the federal government has launched a national campaign to investigate claims of businesses forcing migrant workers to pay for sponsorship under 457 visas.
- The Age reports that the price of taking disputes about goods and services to the state’s small claims tribunal has tripled. This could restrict access to the legal system for low-income earners and could allow dishonest traders to get away with misconduct.
- Consumer protection advocates in Australia are concerned that Australia will adopt the American loan market’s solution to fit GPS trackers on vehicles that have been purchased by people with bad credit histories via loans. The GPS trackers will keep an eye on loan borrowers to ensure they make payments. Sydney Morning Herald provides the full story.
- By the end of the year, home buyers could face new restrictions on bank loans as the Reserve Bank gave its clearest signal yet that it would take action soon to restrain galloping housing markets, says the Age.
- According to the ABC, concerns have been raised that some training colleges are using new government loans to sign up low-income earners to large debts. The ABC has learned some private colleges are targeting areas of Sydney with high rates of public housing and residents whose first language is not English.