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A Draft National Preventative Health Strategy (the Strategy) was released recently for comment via a website survey which closes on 19 April. The survey and the Strategy are available here. The Strategy aims to help Australians improve their health at all stages of life, through early intervention, better information, targeting risk factors and addressing the…

Read More Consultation on Draft National Preventative Health Strategy

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Data reveals postcodes flooded with complaints about loans as Government plans to remove lending protections An analysis by consumer group CHOICE has revealed over 31,000 complaints have been made about credit products since the end of the Banking Royal Commission’s hearings. The analysis comes as crossbench Senators in Federal Parliament decide on a government proposal…

Read More 31,000 credit complaints since Banking Royal Commission

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The ACCC is seeking submissions from consumers and industry participants about choice screens, which give users a choice of internet search services on mobiles and tablets, rather than a pre-selected search service, and about the supply of web browsers in Australia. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 11th March, 2021. The submissions to…

Read More Feedback sought on choice and competition in internet search and web browsers

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Most plastics are made to be used once before being discarded and consumer awareness of the plastics crisis is growing around the world. On average, Australians use 130 kg of plastic per person each year and up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic will find its way into our waterways and into the ocean. The good news is…

Read More World Consumer Rights Day (15 March 2021) ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’

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In 2020 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) engaged Deloitte Access Economics to undertake an independent study on competition in managed funds. This study examines the structure, conduct and performance of the managed funds industry. It seeks to understand the effectiveness of competition within the industry and to identify indicators of market power or…

Read More Competition in managed funds Interim Report seeks comment and submissions by industry

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The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has been amended to introduce new requirements for the labelling of allergens in food. The changes will make allergen information on food labels clearer and more consistent for consumers by requiring simple, plain English allergen declarations in a specific format and location on food labels. The key features…

Read More New requirements for labelling of allergens on packaged foods

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Car manufacturers have successfully recalled 99.9 per cent of the more than 3 million vehicles affected by deadly Takata airbags which are subject to a compulsory recall. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on the 5th March, 2021. “We’re pleased to have such a high completion rate in what has been the biggest vehicle recall…

Read More Car manufacturers complete 99.9 per cent of Takata airbag recall

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The Tolling Customer Ombudsman (TCO) is a free and independent alternative dispute resolution scheme designed broadly to assist customers and toll road users of Linkt – New South Wales, Linkt – Queensland and Linkt – Victoria tolling businesses. The overarching aim of the scheme is to resolve complaints fairly, efficiently and free of charge. Information…

Read More The Tolling Customer Ombudsman: Free, impartial dispute resolution

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The banking code compliance committee (BCCC) has released a report providing Code-subscribing banks’ senior leaders with guidance on how to build organisational capability to improve compliance with the Banking Code of Practice (the Code). The BCCC released the following media release on February 26 2021. The report provides Code-subscribing banks’ (banks) senior leaders with guidance…

Read More BCCC Report – Building Organisational Capability: How banks can improve compliance with the Banking Code of Practice and deliver better customer outcomes

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Customers needing life support equipment – such as kidney dialysis machines – will find it easier and cheaper to shop around for better energy deals under a new rule announced by the Australian Energy Market Commission. This is an AEMC media release, originally published on the 25th February, 2021. The change to the National Energy…

Read More New rule helps life support customers switch and save on energy plans

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Women are widely under-represented in developing the standards that affect so many areas of our lives, from the products we consume every day to the technologies needed to address a wide range of sustainability challenges. Many of these standards do not adequately address how women and men may be affected differently, for example ill-fitting personal protective…

Read More Women in standards development – International Women’s Day 2021 March 8 “Choose to challenge”

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Banks too often blame compliance failures on ‘human error’, according to the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC). Between 2017 and 2019, more than 90% of breaches of the Banking Code of Practice were attributed to staff errors. This is a BCCC Media Release In a report released today, the BCCC has urged banks to take…

Read More Bank systems, technology, staff development and culture key to improve banking customer outcomes