Consumers' Federation of Australia

20 May , 2022

CFA Seeks a Consumer Representative for the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Consumer and Public Health Dialogue (CPHD)

FSANZ is a statutory authority operating under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. FSANZ develops standards that regulate the use of ingredients, processing aids, colourings, additives, vitamins and minerals. The Food Standards Code also covers the composition of some foods, such as dairy, meat and beverages as well as foods developed by new…

20 May , 2022

ACCC seeking to reduce toppling furniture dangers

The ACCC is seeking feedback about ways to reduce the dangers posed by toppling furniture, which has killed at least 28 people in Australia since 2000 and causes close to 20 injuries every week. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 13th May, 2022. A consultation paper published today,…

17 May , 2022

Complaint’s handling standard a good outcome for consumers

Everybody has the right to complain which provides organisations with valuable feedback about what users dislike about a product or service. The revised Australian Standard guides organisations to manage their own complaints and enables consistency in the effective treatment of complaints, particularly in a global marketplace. Organizations should adopt a people-focused and proactive approach to…

16 May , 2022

National Volunteer Week 2022 “Better together”

Volunteering brings people together; it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone. National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and a chance for all of us to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers, find out more here. Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) depends on the volunteers who represent CFA…

16 May , 2022

Inadequate unit pricing risks higher grocery prices, says complaint to ACCC

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) has complained to the ACCC about the inadequate display of grocery unit pricing in some supermarkets operated by Woolworths and by Harris Farm Markets. CFA’s CEO Gerard Brody says “it is essential that the unit prices of grocery products are displayed so that they are easy for all consumers…

5 May , 2022

Grocery shoppers advised to look out for “shrinkflation”: hidden grocery price increases caused by package downsizing

The Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) is advising grocery shoppers to look out for hidden price increases caused by reductions in the amount of product in pre-packaged items. This is a media release from Queensland Consumers Association. It was originally published on 10th April, 2022. Unless the selling price is also reduced proportionally, package downsizing means that consumers pay more…

5 May , 2022

Qantas’s flight credits policy is “unfair and unworkable”: CHOICE

Australian travellers are growing increasingly frustrated with Qantas as restrictions ease across the country and travel begins again. This is a media release from CHOICE. It was originally published on 12th April, 2022. CHOICE spokesperson, Dean Price, said that Qantas was placing unreasonable barriers in the way of travellers trying to redeem their credits or get a refund.…

5 May , 2022

How do you service an Electric Car? – draft open for public comment

If you’re trying to understand electric and hybrid vehicles, what’s under the bonnet can be a bit of a mystery including the maintenance and servicing requirements, read more here. The revised draft standard AS 5732 Electrical vehicle operations – Maintenance and repair provides requirements and guidance on the safe and appropriate handling procedures for those within the mechanical…

5 May , 2022

Insurers are failing consumers with shoddy data practices

The insurance industry could be relying on erroneous or misleading information concerning consumers and their claims history when quoting, assessing new claims or setting premiums, a damning report commissioned by Financial Rights has found. This is a media release from the Financial Rights Legal Centre. It was originally published on 22nd April, 2022. The report Privacy Practices in General…

5 May , 2022

ACCC says consumers need more choices about what online marketplaces are doing with their data

Consumers using online retail marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon “have little effective choice in the amount of data they share”, according to the latest report of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Digital Platform Services Inquiry. This is an article from Katharine Kemp at The Conversation. It was originally published on 2nd May, 2022. Consumers may benefit…

12 April , 2022

Consumer Guarantees – reimaging redress for consumers

Consumer groups welcomed the consultation on improving the effectiveness of the consumer guarantee and supplier indemnification provisions under the Australian Consumer Law. Ideally, under the Australian Consumer Law, products and services come with a guarantee that they are of acceptable quality, safe with no faults and fit-for-purpose. And when these are not met, consumers are…

1 April , 2022

Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee releases Annual Data Report

The independent committee that monitors the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (the Code) has released its Annual Data Report. Drawn from breach and complaints data and from detailed discussions with all Code subscribers, the report includes insights, recommendations and examples of good practice. This is a media release from the Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (COBCCC).…