Consumers' Federation of Australia

2 May , 2019

Concerns Over Privacy and Security Contribute to Consumer Distrust in Connected Devices

The following is a press release from the Internet Society. A survey conducted in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, France and the United Kingdom by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Internet Society and Consumers International found that 65% of consumers are concerned with the way connected devices collect data. More than half (55%) do not trust…

1 May , 2019

When a product presents a safety risk

If a product is found to present a safety risk, it may need to be recalled. Recalling products identified as safety hazards can help prevent injuries to consumers. Recalled products may be entitled to repair, replacement or a total refund. Here is the current list of recalls. The ACCC product safety recall process involves: stopping…

1 May , 2019

Electricity determination important step to keep energy prices down for NSW

The Australian Energy Regulator’s revenue determination for the period 2019-2024, announced 30 April, represents a fair outcome for NSW consumers, and will help curb rising household energy bills. ‘Overall, this determination is welcome news for NSW consumers,’ said Craig Memery, Team leader in PIAC’s Energy + Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program. ‘It builds on the downward…

30 April , 2019

Scams cost Australians half a billion dollars

Australians lost almost half a billion dollars to scammers in 2018 according to the latest figures in the ACCC’s Targeting Scams report released today. “Total combined losses reported to Scamwatch and other government agencies exceeded $489 million – $149 million more than 2017,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said. “And these record losses are likely just the tip…

24 April , 2019

ICAN launches Yarnin’ Money Report

In late 2014, the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) received a grant from the Ecstra Foundation to create Yarnin’ Money, a financial capability program wholly developed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In the 2014 grant round, Ecstra sought to fund projects that would: ‘work to improve the financial literacy and money…

20 April , 2019

Public Transport Ombudsman releases 2019 Accessibility Bulletin

The bulletin looks at some of the accessibility challenges that Victorians face on public transport, and the ways in which we work to help make public transport better for everyone. The Accessibility Bulletin is the first in a series of three annual bulletins to be released this year. Later in 2019 we will publish bulletins…

16 April , 2019

Phone and internet complaints down between July and December 2018

Australian residential consumers and small businesses made 60,998 complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman in the last six months of 2018 (1 July 2018 to 31 December 2018). In this period, complaints about landline, mobile and internet services, decreased by 27.7 per cent compared to the same six month period in 2017. Publishing the Telecommunications…

11 April , 2019

CFA and members make submissions to review of federal unit pricing regulation

CFA and several member organisations have made written submissions to the federal government’s review of the grocery industry unit pricing mandatory Code of Conduct administered by the ACCC. The Code requires most very large grocery stores and online grocery retailers to display on shelf labels, etc. the price per unit of measure of grocery products…

10 April , 2019

Review into Australia’s corporate criminal responsibility regime

The Morrison Government has commissioned the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to undertake a comprehensive review of the corporate criminal responsibility regime. Justice Robert Bromwich has been appointed as a part-time member of the ALRC to assist with the review. “It is essential that our laws are effective in holding corporations to account for criminal…

10 April , 2019

Deliver strong and fair culture or risk business, insurers told

Insurers should accept the challenge of embedding a strong culture of fairness, honesty and transparency, or risk being forced out of business, according to an insurance compliance leader. Lynelle Briggs AO, Independent Chair of the General Insurance Code Governance Committee (the Committee), said there was evidence that some subscribers were not taking the Code and…

5 April , 2019

Budget backing for superannuation consumer advocate

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…

5 April , 2019

Sunny Side Up: Strengthening the consumer protection regime for solar panels in Victoria

Reliable, affordable, renewable energy has helped many Australians take back control of their power prices. Yet as the solar industry booms, consumer protection has not kept up. More needs to be done to protect householders, according to a comprehensive report released by Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action). Sunny Side Up: Strengthening the consumer protection…