Consumers' Federation of Australia

30 August , 2024

ASIC Continues to Focus on Greenwashing

ASIC has made 47 regulatory interventions to address greenwashing misconduct during the 15-month period up to 30 June 2024, including the commencement of two Federal Court proceedings and over $123,000 in infringement notice payments. The range of interventions, outlined in Report 791 ASIC’s interventions on greenwashing misconduct: 2023–2024 (REP 791), are aimed at stamping out misleading and…

30 August , 2024

Consumer Advocates Call for Mandatory SMS Anti-Scam Registry

The growing rate of scams and the devastating impact they are having on Australians has been recognised by the Federal Government through the establishment of the SMS Sender ID Register – but it should be made mandatory. ACCAN has welcomed this important step in the fight against scams but urges the government to ensure that…

29 August , 2024

ASIC Report Reveals “shameful neglect” of Banks to Customers

A new report published today from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reveals a “shameful neglect of thousands of banking customers who have been scammed through no fault of their own and collectively lost millions of dollars”, says Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Stephanie Tonkin. The report, Anti-scam practices of banks outside the four major…

28 August , 2024

Consultation Opens on the Energy Performance of Space Heaters

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is consulting on a proposed technical methodology for comparing the energy performance of residential space heaters (called “the comparison methodology”). The comparison methodology is a technical foundation from which the energy performance of different space heaters could be compared. It identifies how to define and…

27 August , 2024

Advocates Welcome New Aviation Transport Standards, Urge Genuine Co-Design with People with Disability

The Justice and Equity Centre (‘JEC’) and People with Disability Australia (‘PWDA’) welcome today’s White Paper announcing the Government’s intentions to develop new Disability Standards for air travel. This is a significant first step in addressing longstanding discrimination by airlines which has prevented people with disability from being able to travel by air equally with…

27 August , 2024

Improving Advocacy by Aged Care and Disability Services – New Standard Published

Empowering older people and people with disability to participate effectively in decisions affecting the quality of their lives is a keystone of a civil society. The recent Royal Commissions on ageing and disability highlighted the importance of government-funded advocacy services in the empowerment of older people and people with disability when they need to access government-funded…

26 August , 2024

Scam Awareness Week: Share a Story, Stop a Scam

This Scams Awareness Week (26 to 30 August) the National Anti-Scam Centre is encouraging Australians to speak up, share their experiences with others and to report scams to Scamwatch. “We all have a part to play in shutting down criminal scammers. By talking to each other, we can make sure no one is alone in the fight…

22 August , 2024

ACCC Finds New and Expanding Airlines Face ‘significant challenges’ as Concern Remains Over Domestic Airline Competition

The ACCC will continue to closely monitor domestic airfares on services between metropolitan cities following Rex’s withdrawal from this market, the ACCC’s latest domestic airline competition report states. The report shows improved conditions for consumers with declines in airfares, reduced cancellations and improved on time rates for flights over the first half of 2024. However, the ACCC…

22 August , 2024

Inquiry into ‘big box’ retailer price setting

The Senate Standing Committee on Economics has recently opened an inquiry into the price setting of ‘big box’ retailers with submissions open now until 27 September 2024. The Committee’s Terms of Reference for the inquiry and subsequent report to the Australian Senate is: a. the market behaviours of such retailers, including price negotiation practices, abuse…

21 August , 2024

NSW Government Proposes Nation’s Strictest Disclosure Obligations for Strata Managers

The New South Wales government has introduced groundbreaking legislation that imposes the strictest obligations on strata managers in Australia regarding the disclosure of insurance commissions. This legislative move follows a series of public concerns, including those raised by ABC’s 7:30 Report and ACIL, which earlier this year referred 146 instances of misconduct to regulatory authorities.…

21 August , 2024

New Report on Subscription Traps in Australia and Best Practices Going Forward

The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) has just released a new research report Let me out – Subscription trap practices in Australia (published August 2024, written by Chandni Gupta, with thanks to CHOICE and Swetha Meenal Ananthapadmanaban) detailing harmful subscription trap practices in Australia and their affect on consumers. Additionally, the report explains best practices…

16 August , 2024

ACCC Seeks Feedback on Proposed Flooring Recycling Scheme

The ACCC is proposing to grant authorisation for ResiLoop to establish and operate a voluntary, industry-led product stewardship scheme (the Scheme) that collects and recycles resilient flooring waste. Resilient flooring is floorcoverings made from natural mineral fillers combined with materials such as vinyl, linoleum or rubber. Approximately 60,000 tonnes of resilient flooring waste is generated each year…