Is the Commonwealth about to further weaken payday lending laws under pressure from industry? Gerard Brody of Consumer Action Law Centre reviews the arguments. He says interest rates of 288% will not put any pressure on the payday industry to change their harmful practices.
Read More Government to backflip on payday lending law reforms?
The Department of Health and Ageing has released the Proposals for Regulations and Rules (proposals paper) for the eHealth records program.
Read More eHealth proposals paper released
ASIC has released the full findings of ‘shadow shopping’ research which examined financial advice given to people to help them plan for retirement.
Read More ASIC releases full report on retirement advice shadow shopping research
Dr Ken Harvey has been chosen as Choice’s consumer champion for his work on consumer rights and therapeutic goods, especially “complementary” medicines.
Read More Consumer champion’s long fight for better use of medicines
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed proceedings initiated by the ACCC against energy retailers in relation to door-to-door selling practices. The cases will seek clarification on whether a Do Not Knock sticker amounts to a request for salespeople to leave under the Australian Consumer Law.
Read More ACCC to clarify legal position of Do Not Knock sticker: Consumer Action
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has filed proceedings against three energy retailers and the marketing companies engaged by them in relation to their door-to-door selling practices.
Read More ACCC court action against energy retailers’ door-to-door sales tactics
Could the problem of one-sided take it or leave it contracts be addressed by developing a trust mark that traders can display to consumers where there contracts meet agreed standards of fairness?
Read More A trust mark for fair contracts?
The Attorney General Nicola Roxon has released a discussion paper on contract law reform.
Read More Will contract law reform solve problems for consumers?
CHOICE welcomes the passing of the historic financial advice reform bill and congratulates Minister Shorten and the government for putting an end to secret payments that have distorted advice and eroded consumers’ hard earned savings.
Read More Consumers now in the driver’s seat when seeking financial advice
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The ACCC Chairman this week launched the consumer guide Consumers and carbon price claims. The guide provides consumer information about carbon price claims, what the ACCC can do, how consumers can take action to protect their rights and how to make a complaint.
Read More Consumers and carbon price claims
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An overview of ASIC news and media releases relevant to consumer financial services from December to March 2012. MoneySmart updates, consumer warnings and enforcement activity are all covered.
Read More ASIC overview December – March 2012
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The Standards Australia Technical Committee CS-037 Garden Soils and Potting Mixes has been working over the past few years revising the standard recently published in its 4th edition as AS 4454-2012 Composts, soil conditioners and mulches.
Read More Ensuring the safety of composts, soil conditioners and mulches
