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Consumer Action Law Centre Acting Director of Policy and Campaigns Luke Lovell said the new protections for telco customers experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV) announced today by Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, show real progress, as they will provide support to victim-survivors and their families when most in need. “Thank you, Minister Rowland, this…

Read More Advocates Welcome Stronger Protections for Telco Consumers Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence

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Ageism Awareness Day founded by EveryAGE Counts is a reminder to all Australians that ageism is still rife within the Australian community. Ageism has a direct adverse impact on the lives of many Australians in such areas as aged care, provision of health services and employment and is a contributing factor to elder abuse. Ageism Awareness Day…

Read More Ageism Awareness Day – 9 October 2024

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A report from the Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman (TIO) of a 14.6% reduction in consumer complaints over the past year is unlikely to be an indication of improved satisfaction with communications services.  The reduction in complaints is more likely to indicate that telco consumers are increasingly giving up on the complaints process. Over 50% of consumers…

Read More Advocates Warn that Telco Complaint Reduction a Sign of Consumers Giving Up on Process

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The Justice and Equity Centre welcomes the passing of the Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill 2023, which establishes an ‘equal access’ costs model for federal discrimination law claims. This is a reform we proposed with our partners at Grata Fund, to improve access to justice for people who have endured sexual harassment or discrimination…

Read More Advocates Welcome Establishment of ‘equal access’ Costs Model for Federal Discrimination Law Claims

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The ACCC is seeking views on a proposed court-enforceable undertaking offered by Sigma Healthcare Limited (ASX: SIG) in relation to its proposed acquisition of Chemist Warehouse Group Holdings. Sigma is one of the largest wholesalers of prescription medicines, over the counter and front of store products. Sigma is also a franchisor of pharmacies under banners…

Read More ACCC seeks Consultation on Potential Competition Concerns with Sigma/Chemist Warehouse Acquisition

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The ACCC welcomed today’s announcement by the Treasurer of $30 million over 3.5 years in additional funding for investigations and enforcement relating to the supermarket and retail sector. ACCC Chair Cass-Gottlieb said the additional resources would allow for a significant enhancement of the ACCC’s enforcement and compliance activities in an essential sector relied upon by…

Read More Additional Funding for Investigation and Enforcement of Retail and Supermarket Sectors Welcomed

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ICAN is united with CHOICE, Community Credit Legal Service Western Australia (CCLSWA), Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), Financial Rights Legal Centre (FRLC), and Mob Strong Debt Help, in supporting the proposed National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities. We believe this Strategy is a significant step forward in addressing the critical issue of…

Read More Strengthening Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities

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Many Australian consumers and grocery suppliers have told the ACCC they are concerned that some of Australia’s supermarket retailers have considerable market power and are engaging in practices which disadvantage both their customers and suppliers. The Interim Report for the ACCC’s Supermarkets Inquiry, published today, outlines what the ACCC has heard at the halfway point of the…

Read More ACCC Publishes Interim Report on Supermarket Inquiry

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The Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) has published a working paper on multimodal foundation models (MFMs) used in generative artificial intelligence (AI). The latest working paper “Examination of technology – Multimodal Foundation Models” examines MFMs – a type of generative AI that can process and output multiple data types, such as image, audio or video…

Read More Regulators Release Working Paper on an AI Generative Model

Reductions The ACCC has commenced separate proceedings in the Federal Court against Woolworths Group Limited (Woolworths) (ASX: WOW) and Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Coles) (a subsidiary of Coles Group Limited – ASX: COL) for allegedly breaching the Australian Consumer Law by misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of common supermarket products. The…

Read More ACCC Alleges Misconduct by Coles and Woolworths, Over 200 Accounts Each Related to Price

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The majority of Australia’s consumer regulators are missing the opportunity to act as an early warning system for dodgy businesses, according to new research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC). The Am I The Only One? report, released today, finds that most Australian consumer regulators do not publish regular complaints data in an accessible…

Read More Calls Continue for Consumer Regulators to Release Data