Consumers' Federation of Australia

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…

25 August , 2017

ACCAN Welcomes Broadband Speed Advertising Guidance

ACCAN welcomes the ACCC’s guidance to retail service providers (RSPs) on broadband speed claims released today. The guidance should help clear up the consumer confusion around broadband speeds. The informative labels that the ACCC has suggested (basic evening speed, standard evening speed, standard plus evening speed and premium evening speed) will help consumers better understand the speeds they…

18 August , 2017

Expressions of Interest Sought for ATAS Code Compliance Monitoring Committee

Independent Chairperson The AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS) is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified people interested in serving as the Independent Chairperson to the ATAS Code Compliance Monitoring Committee (ACCMC). ATAS is the travel industry accreditation scheme for travel intermediaries, travel agents in Australia and operates with some 3000 locations nationally. The role…

14 August , 2017

Queensland Consumers’ Association Call for Consumer Input into Energy Retail Talks

Media Release from Queensland Consumers Association The Prime Minister’s meeting with energy retailer CEOs on 9 August resulted in some actions and ideas aimed mainly at assisting consumers to make better informed decisions about energy contracts and retailers. It is pleasing that these included many that the Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) and other consumer advocates have…

11 August , 2017

Consumers Federation of Australia joins with the ACCC in Welcoming the Reappointment of ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard

ACCC Media Release: ACCC Chairman Rod Sims has welcomed the Federal Government’s reappointment of Delia Rickard as Deputy Chair of the ACCC for a period of five years. The Government announced Delia’s reappointment today following unanimous support from the states and territories. “Delia has made an outstanding contribution to the work of the ACCC over…