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Button batteries, also known as coin batteries, are used to charge devices that have a longer shelf-life, like a watch or the key to your car. They’re small, flat, and round. Button batteries can lead to serious internal burns in as little as two hours. If you have young kids and you haven’t heard of button batteries, they need…
Read More Button batteries – draft standard open for public comment
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Scamwatch is urging the public to be wary of phone messages from a family member or friend claiming they need help, following a significant rise in “Hi Mum” scams in recent months. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 23rd August, 2022. More than 1,150 Australians fell…
Read More ACCC warning of suspicious messages as “Hi Mum” scams spike
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For the second quarter in a row, record numbers of people are very concerned about the cost of home insurance, according to new data from CHOICE. The nationally representative survey, conducted in June 2022, found that 64% of Australians were very concerned or quite concerned about the cost of home insurance. This is a media release from CHOICE.…
Read More Almost two in three Australians concerned about cost of home insurance
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Recently, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published an interview with Ian Jarratt from the Queensland Consumers Association on the relevance of retail food price transparency to the FAO’s Right to Food Program. In the interview Ian says that food price transparency is extremely relevant to consumers’ right to food because it ensures that…
Read More Price transparency and consumers’ right to food
EV charging
The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has made a submission to the Energy Security Board in response to its Issues Paper. CFA supports two representatives who participate in the Standards Committee, EM-001 Electric Vehicle Operation. The submission has been developed with the support of these expert consumer representatives and focuses on the questions in the Issues Paper related to…
Read More Consumer empowerment must be central to Electric Vehicle Smart Charging
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The following is a piece by Dr Ron Somers (PhD) former external senior lecturer in public health at the University of Adelaide, former director of epidemiology at SA Health, and a long-time GP practice manager. Ron is also the CFA Standards Representative on two Standards Australia Technical Committees. Australian consumers need to exercise caution over the coming…
Read More Red alert for dangerous infant mattresses
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Superannuation trustees are being urged to review their internal dispute resolution (IDR) arrangements after the first stage of an ASIC surveillance found indicators of significant compliance issues. This is a media release from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). It was originally published on 10th August, 2022. ASIC’s surveillance examines trustees’ compliance with the new enforceable requirements…
Read More ASIC’s surveillance of internal dispute resolution in superannuation identifies concerns
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The ACCC is seeking feedback on ways to reduce significant safety risks associated with products commonly used to place babies to sleep. A consultation paper published today, outlines a range of proposed regulatory options which aim to prevent infant injuries and deaths caused by inclined and other products when used for sleep. This is a media release from the Australian…
Read More ACCC seeks to reduce infant sleep product risks to help keep babies safe
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ASIC has released Report 735 Retail investor research (REP 735) capturing retail investor motivations, attitudes and behaviours in the period following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a media release from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). It was originally published on 11th August, 2022. The research surveyed 1,053 Australian retail investors aged 18 and over who…
Read More ASIC releases research about investment behaviour
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Strata insurance in Australia is a growing class of insurance business as a result of the rising popularity and development of multi-owner properties across the country. However, issues have arisen for consumers living in strata schemes (known as ‘owners corporations’, ‘body corporates’ etc). These issues include: strata managers commonly receive rebates of broker commissions and…
Read More Independent Review of Strata Insurance Practices – phase 1 recommendations
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Australians who are blind or vision impaired face significant barriers and issues when accessing banking and financial institutions and products in Australia, primarily resulting in complete inaccessibility to these institutions and products. This post is taken from a report by Blind Citizens Australia. It was originally published on 15th July, 2022. In a new report, Blind Citizens…
Read More New report from Blind Citizens Australia on access to banking
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Australian consumers have reported widespread consumer guarantee failures, misrepresentations by caravan suppliers, and unexpected delays in the delivery and repair of caravans, according to the ACCC’s New caravan retailing report released today. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 21st July, 2022. The report highlights key issues of concern…
Read More Caravan industry on notice for poor treatment of consumers
