Consumers' Federation of Australia

7 March , 2023

Women and Standards International Women’s Day 8 March 2023 DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality

The latest available Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 data show that the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030 see the report Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2022. A gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education can increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their…

7 March , 2023

CFA submission on Seafood Country-of-Origin Labelling

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has made a submission to the Department of Industry, Science & Resources on Country-of-Origin Labelling for seafood in hospitality settings. CFA considers that information about seafood origin will help consumers make more informed food choices in hospitality settings. Clearly, given a choice, some consumers may change their menu option if…

1 March , 2023

Watch CFA webinar: Is Insurance an Essential Service? Promoting affordability & accessibility for all

With extreme weather continuing to affect large parts of Australia, the importance of insurance is larger than ever. Following from CFA’s webinar on the UK’s System for Flood Insurance, this webinar will examine measures to improve affordability and access of general insurance, including home & contents insurance. It was hosted by CFA on the 7th…

1 March , 2023

Watch CFA Webinar: Flood Insurance and Relief – the UK experience

This webinar was designed for CFA members, consumer advocates and others to learn from the experience in the UK with flood insurance and relief. It was hosted by CFA on the 6th of September 2022, and was followed by a webinar on the affordability and access of insurance. Below, watch presentations by: Andy Board, CEO,…

1 March , 2023

AFCA receives over 2000 complaints in year since SEQ/NSW floods

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has received more than 2,000 complaints from flood-affected consumers in the year since the devastating South-East Queensland/northern NSW storms, with delays in claim handling the most significant issue. This is a media release from the Essential Services Commission. It was originally published on 27th February, 2023. Disputes with insurers in the…

27 February , 2023

Trowbridge Review of Strata Insurance Practices

Strata insurance is growing in Australia as a result of more people living in multi-occupier buildings and properties across the county. However, there are a some key problems identified with strata insurance, including: strata managers commonly receive rebates of broker commissions and simultaneously brokers charge fees to owners’ corporations: both of these practices are confusing…

24 February , 2023

Product Safety Pledge removes thousands of dangerous items from online marketplaces

More than 15,000 potentially unsafe products were delisted by online marketplaces signed up to the ACCC’s Australian Product Safety Pledge last financial year, with 98 per cent of regulator-initiated take down requests actioned within 2 days. Pledge signatories also used artificial intelligence, image recognition and automated scanning to prevent hundreds of thousands of unsafe products…

22 February , 2023

Updated G20/OECD High-Level Principles on Financial Consumer Protection published

The G20/OECD High-Level Principles on Financial Consumer Protection has now been revised following a review process. The Principles are the leading international standard for effective and comprehensive financial consumer protection frameworks. As a high-level standard, the Principles are specifically designed and intended to be applicable to any jurisdiction and are cross-sectoral in nature (i.e. they…

22 February , 2023

AFCA Systemic issues insights report for 21-22

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has released its Systemic issues insights report for the 2021-2022 financial year. AFCA identifies systemic issues that have been raised in a complaint or several complaints, which are likely to affect a class of persons in addition to any person who lodged a complaint or raised a concern. It…

20 February , 2023

New campaign to help pet buyers understand their consumer rights

Western Australian Government campaign launched to empower new pet owners to understand their consumer rights 186 consumer complaints received about issues with new pets in the last three years Almost $30,000 total successfully refunded to complainants from 2020 to 2022 WA Commerce Minister Sue Ellery today launched a new pet buyer awareness campaign promoting Western…

19 February , 2023

Urgent action needed to help grocery shoppers save money

The Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) wants action now from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Albanese government to make it much easier for consumers to manage the cost of living and grocery price inflation crises by getting better value when shopping for groceries. QCA’s spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says the results of a…

17 February , 2023

Advocates and industry agree: Time to close lending loopholes on buy now, pay later

Key stakeholders call for buy now, pay later should be regulated as meantime credit In submissions released publicly by the Treasury today, major banks, industry associations, regulators and consumer advocates are unified in calling for an end to lending loopholes allowing buy now, pay later providers to avoid safe lending laws. Groups who made submissions…