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…
Read More Insurance Survey – Experiences with External Experts
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“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.
Read More Ombudsman Warns of “Unsustainable” Increase as AFCA sees a Record 100,000 Complaints
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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.
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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…
Read More Standards and Artificial Intelligence in the APEC Region
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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.
Read More Strong Consumer Voice for Superannuation Sector Announced
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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%…
Read More Battery Stewardship Council Proposes Extension to EV Batteries
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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…
Read More Vaping Reform and Webinar
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“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.”
Read More Consumers Warned to Stay Alert to Scams over the Holiday and Sale Season
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“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.”
Read More Merger Reform Key to Competition and Quality
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The Senate has established a Select Committee on Supermarket Prices, to inquire into and report on the price setting practices and market power of major supermarkets.
The committee is seeking submissions that address the terms of reference by Friday, 2 February 2024 and the committee’s final report is due by 7 May 2024.
Read More Submissions Open for Senate Inquiry into Supermarket Prices
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A new survey of almost 9000 supporters from consumer group CHOICE has found 40% of respondents had a flight cancelled or delayed in the past 12 months.
“As we head into the Christmas season, a huge number of people will be relying on flights to visit family and friends. Unfortunately, our survey of almost 9000 people from across the country has found consumers still face a number of difficulties when dealing with the aviation industry,” says CHOICE Senior Campaigns and Policy Advisor, Bea Sherwood.
Read More Consumer Groups Call for New Passenger Rights for Flyers as Delays and Cancellations Continue
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The 2023 Australian Consumer Survey has just been released and the figures are interesting, with a little over half of all purchases in Australia are now made online compared to 23% in 2016. The concerns of consumers also reflects this online trend as consumers making online international purchases are often unsure about the application of Australian Consumer Law (ACL), and as more and more people are targeted by, and are concerned about, scams.
Read More Consumer Thoughts: 2023 Australian Consumer Survey Released
