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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating across Australia. Whilst job losses and financial instability did not discriminate, consumers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities have been disproportionately impacted. CPRC undertook this research to measure the economic fallout of COVID-19 with consumers who speak a language other than English at home, compared…

Read More Consumers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds experienced greater hardship during COVID-19 lockdown due to financial stress and poor industry practices

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Australian banks are launching updated guidelines on financial abuse as part of their continued focus on responding to family violence and elder abuse. The updated industry-wide approach is designed to ensure bank staff are equipped to recognise signs of financial abuse. This is an ABA media release, originally published on 4th April, 2021. “This kind of…

Read More Banks unite to help customers experiencing financial abuse

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Australian banks are urging state and territory governments to adopt consistent laws on powers of attorney to prevent elder financial abuse.  This is a media release from the Australian Banking Association. It was originally published on 31st March, 2021. State and federal Attorneys-General are meeting today to consider a scope for a national register of power of…

Read More Banks call for consistent laws to prevent elder abuse

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Involved in any building works? The National Construction Code (NCC) sets out the minimum requirements and provides uniform technical standards for design and construction of new building work (including in existing buildings), plumbing and drainage across all Australian States and Territories. A FREE copy of the NCC is available here. NCC Volume 2 contains the requirements for residential and non-habitable…

Read More Involved in building works – What does the National Construction Code mean?

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The Morrison Government has today introduced legislation into the Parliament to establish a mandatory scheme for the sharing of motor vehicle service and repair information. This ground breaking legislation will level the playing field for the automotive repair sector, increasing competition and consumer choice. This is a media release from The Hon Michael Sukkar MP,…

Read More Morrison Government levels the playing field for independent repairers

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The Full Federal Court has upheld an appeal by the ACCC and declared that Quantum Housing Group Pty Ltd engaged in an unconscionable system of conduct in its dealings with investors regarding the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 22nd March,…

Read More Full Federal Court ruling provides vital clarification of the law on statutory unconscionable conduct

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The general insurance industry committed itself to new requirements relating to family violence policies from 1 July 2020. From that date all subscribers who provide retail insurance products are required to: “… have a publicly available policy about how we [the subscriber] will support you [the consumer] if you are affected by family violence. This…

Read More Assessment of general insurer’s compliance with new code provision on family violence

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The ACCC will this year focus on implementation of important safety standards relating to quad bikes including preparing consumers and businesses for a mandatory requirement for operator protection devices as it is introduced in October, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said today. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 22nd March, 2021. Mr Sims, speaking at…

Read More Quad bikes and button batteries among ACCC’s 2021 product safety priorities

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The Life Code Compliance Committee (the Life CCC) – the independent body that administers and enforces the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Code) – released its report on the Own Motion Inquiry (OMI) into how subscribers are meeting Code requirements on the review of medical definitions. Section 3.2 relates to the obligation that medical…

Read More Life insurance code inquiry into review of medical definitions

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The General Insurance Code Governance Committee (the Committee) has today released its annual report for the 2019-20 financial year. The report includes analysis of trends and service standards in the general insurance industry in a year that included significant summer bushfires, flooding and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a General Insurance Code…

Read More General Insurance in Australia Report 2019-20