Consumers' Federation of Australia

8 September , 2017

Response to Retirement Housing Inquiry fails to provide access to justice

Joint media release from Consumer Action, COTA, HHAG and RRVV: After six months of waiting, the Victorian Government has responded to the Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector, conducted by the Victorian Legislative Council. The Victorian Government’s response to the Parliamentary Inquiry has failed to deliver, according to retirement housing residents and advocates. Despite nearly…

8 September , 2017

Plugs and Sockets Standard Gets an Update

When you plug your phone charger in to a wall socket, how do you know that it will fit? A new edition of the standard for plugs and sockets used in Australia and New Zealand, AS/NZS 3112, Approval and test specification – Plugs and socket – outlets, has been published. Read more here. Standards are…

5 September , 2017

CFA Member Financial Counselling Australia Joins Campaign to Stop Welfare Cuts

Financial Counselling Australia is putting its support, loud and clear, behind the ACOSS-led campaign calling on the Government to stop demonizing people on welfare and reverse planned cuts to social security benefits. FCA is one of the many community organisations that yesterday signed a joint statement calling out the inhumanity behind nine proposed welfare cuts. …

5 September , 2017

Energy Retailers to Inform Consumers of Better Deals

From CFA member Queensland Consumers Association: The Queensland Consumers Association has welcomed the decision by south east Queensland (SEQ) electricity retailers to let many of their customers know that they might be able to get a better deal. Association spokesperson Ian Jarratt says this is a long overdue move that will be of particular help…

4 September , 2017

Energy Retailers Urged to Focus on Solutions ahead of Meeting with PM

From CFA member Energy Consumers Australia: Energy Consumers Australia is urging the CEOs of major energy retailers to develop comprehensive strategies to improve the way they support their customers ahead of their second meeting with the Prime Minister today. Energy Consumers Australia CEO, Rosemary Sinclair, said the Prime Minister’s intervention earlier this month shone a…

3 September , 2017

CHOICE Calls for Urgent Reform of Ticket Resales Industry

From CFA member CHOICE: A study of the ticket resale industry has found desperate fans are fed up with a market which uses unfair sales tactics to deliberately confuse, overcharge and hit them with sneaky fees. “From Ed Sheeran and Adele to Cirque Du Soleil and the Cricket World Cup, consumers are being hoodwinked into…

1 September , 2017

Telstra Customers at Reduced Risk of Unexpected Third Party Charges – ACCAN

ACCAN welcomes Telstra’s announcement that it will no longer offer third party mobile subscriptions to its customers from 3 December, 2017. Our recent survey found that as many as 1.9m consumers across Australia have found unexpected third party charges on their phone bills in the previous six months. “We congratulate Telstra on stepping up and taking action to stop their…

1 September , 2017

Queensland Calls for Stronger Lemon Laws

Media release from Attorney General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath. The Palaszczuk Government is calling on the Federal Government and other states and territories to back further development of improved consumer laws, going into this week’s Consumer Affairs Forum. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said Australian Consumer Law had undergone significant review. Last…

31 August , 2017

Federal Government Taking Submissions in Fight Against Modern Slavery – Standards

Millions of people around the world today are subjected to modern slavery practices, such as servitude and forced labour. Australian businesses and consumers are benefiting from modern slavery in supply chains, including through access to cheaper labour and services. These are grave violations of human rights with devastating impacts which have no place in our…

30 August , 2017

Experts to Review Building and Construction Safety Issues

The following is a press release from the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Craig Laundry MP. A leading academic and an expert lawyer have been appointed to examine compliance and enforcement issues in Australia’s construction sector to help ensure the ongoing safety of the nation’s buildings. The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) today announced that Professor…

28 August , 2017

Macquarie University Launches New Retirement Villages Calculator

Click here to see the original press release from Macquarie University, and here to jump straight to the calculator. The challenges of comparing the cost of retirement villages will get much easier with today’s launch of Macquarie University’s retirement village calculator, the first of its kind in Australia. The free calculator, available at www.rvcalculator.org takes…

25 August , 2017

Telco Ombudsman Proposes Change to Terms of Reference

The following is reposted from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman website: The TIO is proposing to amend its Terms of Reference to address the increasing complexity of the telecommunications supply chain arising from the rollout of the national broadband network. This complexity has given rise to a number of unique challenges in resolving complaints between consumers…