Consumers' Federation of Australia

17 January , 2024

Survey on Mandatory Furniture Safety Standards

How stable is your furniture? Does your heavy, full wardrobe have appropriate anchors or tip-over failsafes? Currently, Australia only has a voluntary safety standard (AS/NZS 4935:2009) but in light of the recently published mandatory American standard (ASTM F2057–23 Standard Safety Specification for Clothing Storage Units) the Australian Competition and ConsumerCommission has decided to re-investigate the…

17 January , 2024

New Telco Code Proposal Fails to Deliver

The Communications Alliance, the peak industry body for the Australian communications sector, has released a proposed framework and review package for the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code.

16 January , 2024

Consultation on Maximum Permissible Errors for EV Equipment

The National Measurement Institute is seeking your views on the draft General Certificate of Approval for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE).

Any feedback and comments on the proposed documents should be provided by Friday 8 March 2024, 11:59 PM AEST.

15 January , 2024

Insurance Survey – Experiences with External Experts

The General Insurance Code Governance Committee (GICGC) has opened a survey asking for consumer experiences with experts involved on assessing loss or damage for home insurance claims. The GICGC’s goal with this survey is to examine how insurers monitor external expert opinions on the causes of loss or damage. The survey should take no more…

9 January , 2024

Ombudsman Warns of “Unsustainable” Increase as AFCA sees a Record 100,000 Complaints

“The volume of complaints escalated to AFCA has been increasing at an unsustainable rate,” David Locke, the Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), said.

“Scam-related complaints to AFCA have nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023. They continue to be of great concern to us. We are also seeing the impact of increased interest rates and cost of living pressures, with complaints involving financial hardship also significantly higher,” Mr Locke said.

5 January , 2024

ASIC Extends 2022 Product Intervention Orders on Credit

ASIC has extended its product intervention orders made in relation to short term credit and continuing credit contracts so that the orders remain in force until they are revoked or they sunset on 1 October 2032.
Since the orders came into effect on 15 July 2022, they have reinforced consumer protections by preventing the provision of short term credit and continuing credit contracts that involve unreasonably high fees. These fees exceeded the cost caps imposed by the National Credit Code.

5 January , 2024

Standards and Artificial Intelligence in the APEC Region

Original news article by Standards Australia (20/12/2023). A soon-to-be-released Standards Australia publication supporting the responsible expansion of AI has been showcased at an international event. Aurelie Jacquet, Chair of Australia’s AI standards committee, and Roland Terry-Lloyd, Head of Engagement & Strategic Delivery, represented Standards Australia at the recent 2023 Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit in…

4 January , 2024

Strong Consumer Voice for Superannuation Sector Announced

In the 2023–24 Budget, the Government announced funding to support a consumer advocate in the superannuation sector. This means that consumers will have an independent voice advocating for better outcomes on their behalf to Government and industry.

Super Consumers Australia has been chosen as the successful recipient of this funding, following an open and competitive grant process. Super Consumers Australia will promote the interests of members by representing members in policy development and supporting better member understanding of the superannuation system.

3 January , 2024

Battery Stewardship Council Proposes Extension to EV Batteries

Currently, EV batteries account for only 7%, by weight, of all batteries entering the market in 2023 and only 0.2% of all batteries, by weight, entering the waste stream. However, within the next decade the number of EV batteries entering the market, as a percentage of the total battery market, will increase to 30% with 5%…

28 December , 2023

Vaping Reform and Webinar

Two weeks ago changes to vaping laws were made via reforms to customs and therapeutic goods regulations. The reforms focus primarily on the sale and importation of disposable vapes and on the prescription of vapes for therapeutic purposes by qualified medical practitioners. The reforms go into effect on January 1st 2024, and by March 1st…

22 December , 2023

Consumers Warned to Stay Alert to Scams over the Holiday and Sale Season

“Our advice to consumers is to never click on links in text messages or emails, even if you’re expecting a delivery. Instead, consumers should independently check the status of their delivery by going to the Australia Post app or website or the courier service they’re expecting the delivery from.”

20 December , 2023

Merger Reform Key to Competition and Quality

“We shouldn’t have a process that is prey to legal brinkmanship, with all the uncertainty and expense that entails,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Consumers, small businesses and farmers will benefit from the ACCC reforms, which will include high levels of transparency and provide certainty. But we also believe that companies and other businesses concerned about their suppliers, customers or rivals merging will also benefit.”