Consumers' Federation of Australia

19 October , 2023

Changing Gears: Towards a car market people can trust (Webinar)

Original text from here. Faulty cars are far too common and disrupt too many lives. Join us at the launch of a major report by the Consumer Policy Research Centre, ‘Detours and Roadblocks’, that examines the experience of consumers with faulty cars in Victoria. The report, commissioned by Consumer Action Law Centre, puts forward a…

19 October , 2023

CALC: Victoria Overrun with Lemon Cars as Current Dispute Process Totally Unfit for Consumers

“For years, Consumer Action has been saying we need to fix how we deal with car disputes. It shouldn’t be costing people years of their lives and thousands of dollars to get what they are owed under the law, and people shouldn’t be forced to drive or sell unsafe cars,”

19 October , 2023

Dispute Resolution Process Unfit for Purpose

In a recent report released by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) more than half of Victorian’s who bought a car, used or new, in the past five years have experienced major or minor faults with their vehicle.

18 October , 2023

New NBN Regulations “places consumers at the heart”

“[1]t’s critical that consumer groups are resourced to genuinely engage with NBN and industry on these critical matters that impact our daily lives. Living up to this promise is key to driving greater value for consumers and NBN over the life of the SAU”.

17 October , 2023

Improved Standard a Significant Advancement for Safe Motor Vehicle Travel

Standards Australia has published a world first standard AS 5384 Accessories for seats belts used in motor vehicles which provides quality assurance to consumers who require such additional safety features not provided by standard motor vehicle seatbelts.

17 October , 2023

Consumer representative opportunity: Australian Banking Association (ABA) Consumer Outcome Group

The ABA Consumer Outcomes Group is a joint bank and consumer representative forum for discussing and responding to existing and emerging issues to improve consumer outcomes in retail banking.

17 October , 2023

ACCC Accepts New NBN Regulation

“The NBN is a critical piece of national infrastructure that is central to Australia’s digital economy. Every day, millions of Australians use the NBN for work, commerce, education and entertainment,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
“We are satisfied that NBN Co’s latest SAU variation proposal promotes the long-term interests of Australians, which is the primary objective of the test that we have to apply,” Ms Brakey said.

16 October , 2023

Calls to End Gas Connections and Electrify Households

“We need all three levels of government to come together and develop a national plan for households to go all-electric that provides the information, funding and support people need, and identifies the policy changes that will ensure no one is left behind.”

13 October , 2023

‘Not harmless fun’ – Advocates Call for Credit Card Ban to Extend to Scratchies and Lottery Tickets

“If lotteries get this carve-out and people can use credit cards, it will be the thin edge of the wedge. They will then get carve-outs from future advertising and inducement reforms. We’ll regret this mistake when lotteries are advertised day and night and people increasingly spend large sums of money.”

Ms Levin said lotteries were no longer harmless fun as portrayed by providers. They were now also a far cry from the benign, government-owned public sweeps that we remember from childhood, and which had legislation that mandated donating money to charitable causes.

13 October , 2023

ACCC Warns Caravan Industry Over Misleading Representations

The ACCC is putting the caravan industry on notice that the use of misleading representations in advertising is in breach of the Australian Consumer Law and may result in strong enforcement action being taken against retailers.

12 October , 2023

ACCC Issues PSA on Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

In more battery related news, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issues a Public Service Announcement on the safe use and storage of lithium-ion batteries as part of a larger push to improve safety standards around Li-ion batteries and prevent potentially deadly and highly damaging fires.

12 October , 2023

Tesla Penalised for Alleged Breach of Button Battery Safety Standards

The ACCC alleges Tesla failed to conduct the required safety tests before supplying three of its key fob models and two of its illuminated door sill models and failed to provide the mandatory safety warnings on these products as required by the standard.