Consumers' Federation of Australia

31 January , 2012 0 comments

Consumers deserve transparency not spin from banks

CHOICE says comments are softening up ahead of interest rate decisions.

30 January , 2012 0 comments

ACCC petrol report shows higher prices reflect global trends

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released its 2011 report on the prices, costs and profits of unleaded petrol in Australia.

28 January , 2012 3 comments

Developing a sustainability standard for bioenergy

Bioenergy efficiently extracts clean, low-emission electricity from a range of wastes. CFA has appointed a consumer representative to the SA technical committee on Sustainability Criteria for bioenergy.

25 January , 2012 0 comments

Time to give Australian fare a Fair Go

CHOICE uses Australia Day to call for better country-of-origin food labelling In the lead-up to Australia Day, CFA Member CHOICE is calling on politicians to act on the overwhelming desire of Australian consumers for better country-of-origin labelling on food for retail sale. The people’s watchdog says that consumers regularly identify country-of-origin labelling as a major concern,…

24 January , 2012 0 comments

ASIC discussion paper: EDR jurisdiction and debt collection proceedings

ASIC has released a consultation paper to commence its review of external dispute resolution (EDR) jurisdiction over consumer complaints in cases where members have commenced legal proceedings to recover debts from consumers.

24 January , 2012 0 comments

Warning on magnets in toys

Consumer Affairs Victoria reminded Victorian parents and carers of the dangers that toys containing magnets can pose if swallowed following the recent death of a Queensland toddler.

23 January , 2012 0 comments

Mandatory standards: protecting consumers

Mandatory safety standards are made for products that are likely to be especially hazardous. In making mandatory safety standards, the government protects consumers by specifying minimum requirements that products must meet before they are supplied

23 January , 2012 0 comments

Time up for concessions and delays to vital financial reforms

Consumer groups say despite an industry campaign there’s no justification for any more delays or concessions which would further dilute much-needed federal government reforms to the regulation of financial advisers.

21 January , 2012 0 comments

Consumers the losers as competition tribunal sides with power companies – yet again.

Victorian households are staring down the barrel of yet another electricity price hike after the Australian Competition Tribunal (ACT) overturned significant aspects of the ruling of the energy industry’s independent regulator.

20 January , 2012 0 comments

Payday Loan “ATMs” – A New Low in Irresponsible Lending

An Australian fringe lending company is introducing payday loan “kiosks” which look like ATMs into Queensland shopping centres, a move that financial counsellors say could put financially vulnerable families at greater risk post the holidays.

17 January , 2012 0 comments

New standard to manage the impact of e-waste

Waste from obsolete computers and television sets (known as e-waste) is now a massive problem worldwide. To assist industry to comply with new legislation about e-waste management, Standards Australia is developing a new standard, AS/NZS 5377 – Collection, storage, transport and treatment of e-waste.

12 January , 2012 0 comments

New Consumers International report shines the spotlight on global money-transfer markets

Millions of consumers around the world transfer money to their friends and relatives abroad. The World Bank estimates that a total of USD483 billion was sent in 2011.

Many communities in developing countries rely on remittances sent home by migrant workers to meet basic needs. But average charges for this relatively simple transaction are unreasonably high, often 10 or 20%.