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Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcomes the announcement that ANZ has admitted to widespread misconduct and has agreed to pay $240 million in penalties. ANZ has admitted to unconscionable conduct, overstating bond trading data by tens of billions, and widespread misconduct affecting nearly 65,000 customers. The matters will now be considered by the Federal Court which…
Read More ANZ Admits to Unconscionable Conduct
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Children are at serious risk of injury if bunk beds are poorly made or assembled. Serious injuries that can happen include fractures, concussion, and strangulation. Standards Australia has released a revised draft standard DR AS/NZS 4220:2025 Bunk beds and other elevated beds for Public Comment (see below). This Standard specifies strength, durability, stability and general…
Read More Bunk Beds Standard open for public comment
Fraud Alert
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement has recently opened an inquiry into crime as a service – but why is that relevant to consumer organisations? Crime as a Service, also called cybercrime as a service or CaaS, includes things like the acquisition of personal information and the proliferation of fake websites and bulk emails…
Read More Joint Committee Opens Submissions on Crime as a Service
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Consumer advocacy groups have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to open consultation on strengthening the mandatory Unit Pricing Code. Treasury has released a Consultation Paper on ways to strengthen the Retail Grocery Industry (Unit Pricing) Code of Conduct administered by the ACCC. The Code is a mandatory industry code of conduct made under Part IVB…
Read More Consultation Open to Strengthen Unit Pricing Code, Address Shrinkflation
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The eSafety Commissioner has registered new industry-drafted codes which aim to better protect children from a range of harmful and age-inappropriate content, including the clear and present danger posed by mostly unregulated AI-driven companion chatbots. Many of these chatbots are capable of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with minors, and have been alleged to also…
Read More New eSafety Commission Codes Focus on Child Protection
News
The Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) has recently appointed Peter Kell to conduct and Independent Review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Life Code). As part of the Review, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia has been asked to select an appropriate organisation from our members to conduct a funded sector-wide submission to…
Read More Independent Life Insurance Code Review – Consumer Sector Submission
HOME SAFETY
Accidental swallowing of a button or coin battery, by a pet or child, can result in severe injury or death, especially when the battery becomes lodged in the oesophagus. Standards Australia has launched a new free Consumer Reference Guide on Button Batteries to improve public access to the latest expert consumer advice aimed at preventing common…
Read More New consumer safety guide – Button Batteries
Here to Help
The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) is inviting suitable applicants to apply for the role of consumer representative on the Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (COBCCC). Details of the purpose and conditions of the role, including renumeration, are as follows: Purpose of the COBCCC Purpose of the Consumer Representative A Consumer Representative to the…
Read More Call for Expressions of Interest for new COBCCC Consumer Representative
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Standards Australia are looking for the next generation of change-makers to join their team and make a difference. Graduate Program This hands-on program gives graduates the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work. Through rotations across key departments, participants gain valuable experience and a deeper understanding of how we operate – More information and how to apply NEXTgen…
Read More Standards Australia Professional Development Programs – Applications Open Now
SCAM
Australians reported more than 108,000 scams and financial losses of about $175 million to the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch service in the first half of 2025, with fake websites, online advertisements, and contact through social media criminals’ preferred methods of reaching people. This Scams Awareness Week (25-29 August), the National Anti-Scam Centre is joining together…
Read More Scam Reports Down and Monetary Losses Up from 2024
News
The Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) has recently appointed Peter Kell to conduct and Independent Review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Life Code). As part of the Review, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia has been asked to select an appropriate organisation from our members to conduct a funded sector-wide submission to…
Read More Consumer Sector Submission for Independent Life Insurance Code Review
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A report released today (August 7 2025) by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) finds telcos are failing to consistently support customers in financial hardship and, in some cases, are unintentionally causing or making financial stress worse. The report, ‘Keeping connected: Experiences of telco consumers in financial hardship,’ is informed by a review of over 900…
Read More New Report Shows Telcos Continue to Fail Vulnerable Consumers
