Consumers' Federation of Australia

23 October , 2023

Children’s Week 2023

Children’s Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood. The theme for Children’s Week 2023 is Children have the right to relax, play and take part in activities they enjoy (based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). Children’s Week is a national celebration that recognises the talents, skills, achievements, and rights of children. During Children’s Week, local councils, not-for-profit organisations, schools, and early childhood services organise open days, displays, special events, virtual spaces, and online-based activities. Find out more about Children’s Week and celebrations near you here.

23 October , 2023

Australian Financial Complaints Authority Latest ‘Systemic Issues Insights Report’

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has recently published (19/10/2023) its latest ‘Systemic Issues Insights Report’, covering the second half of the 2022 to 2023 financial year. During that time AFCA received 81 reports, 55 of which were related to systemic matters.

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.