ACCC Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

26 August , 2024

Scam Awareness Week: Share a Story, Stop a Scam

This Scams Awareness Week (26 to 30 August) the National Anti-Scam Centre is encouraging Australians to speak up, share their experiences with others and to report scams to Scamwatch. “We all have a part to play in shutting down criminal scammers. By talking to each other, we can make sure no one is alone in the fight…

22 August , 2024

ACCC Finds New and Expanding Airlines Face ‘significant challenges’ as Concern Remains Over Domestic Airline Competition

The ACCC will continue to closely monitor domestic airfares on services between metropolitan cities following Rex’s withdrawal from this market, the ACCC’s latest domestic airline competition report states. The report shows improved conditions for consumers with declines in airfares, reduced cancellations and improved on time rates for flights over the first half of 2024. However, the ACCC…

16 August , 2024

ACCC Seeks Feedback on Proposed Flooring Recycling Scheme

The ACCC is proposing to grant authorisation for ResiLoop to establish and operate a voluntary, industry-led product stewardship scheme (the Scheme) that collects and recycles resilient flooring waste. Resilient flooring is floorcoverings made from natural mineral fillers combined with materials such as vinyl, linoleum or rubber. Approximately 60,000 tonnes of resilient flooring waste is generated each year…

6 August , 2024

Safety Warnings Issued for Children’s Seat Head Straps and Self-Feeding Baby Bottles

The ACCC is investigating the safety of aftermarket children’s car seat head straps and baby bottle self-feeding devices, after the Assistant Treasurer issued Safety Warning Notices for each of the products. The safety warning notices warn consumers of the possible risks of injury or death to infants and children associated with the use of these products. “The ACCC…

6 August , 2024

Advocates Continue Call for Reimbursement Policy as Scam Complaints to AFCA go ‘off the charts’

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) received a record number of complaints in 2023-24 after disputes to the ombudsman service increased 9 per cent to more than 105,000 for the year. Complaints about scams, online and personal transaction accounts, credit cards, and personal loans all saw significant increases. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin…

5 August , 2024

Job and Employment Scams a New Focus of the National Anti-Scam Centre

The National Anti-Scam Centre will coordinate a jobs and employment scam fusion cell to disrupt criminal groups advertising or offering jobs which do not exist. Job and employment scams are targeted to steal money and personal information. Scammers often impersonate legitimate businesses or well-known recruitment agencies. They use a variety of methods to advertise non-existent…

2 August , 2024

ACCC Issues Draft Determination on Collaboration in Cash-in-transit Industry

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation with conditions to the Australian Banking Association (ABA), its member banks, and other industry participants to facilitate business continuity planning in the cash in transit industry. The ACCC’s draft determination also proposes to allow the parties to implement business continuity measures in the event of, or…

30 July , 2024

ACCC Welcomes New Commissioner

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb has welcomed the appointment of Dr Philip Williams AM as a Commissioner, proposed by Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers in April. A distinguished scholar and a former Professor of Law and Economics at the University of Melbourne, Dr Williams is also a former executive chair of Frontier Economics and has previously advised…

26 July , 2024

Mandatory Safety Standards for Infant Products Introduced

The Albanese Government has implemented the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recommendation to make new mandatory safety and information standards for infant sleep products. The ACCC estimates that parents tragically lose ten babies every year due to unsafe sleeping and inclined non?sleep products in Australia. The Government’s new mandatory standards will aim to reduce the…

5 July , 2024

Advocates Argue for Direct Regulation of Communication as an Essential Service

The ACCC response to the latest draft of the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code validates long-held consumer concerns about the suitability of self-regulation to protect telecommunications consumers. The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes and supports the comments of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the May 20 draft of the TCP…

3 July , 2024

Telstra and Optus Cooperate with ACCC Google Search Services Investigation

The ACCC has accepted undertakings from Telstra and Optus as part of the ACCC’s ongoing competition investigation into Google’s search services in Australia. During the investigation into Google’s conduct, the ACCC became aware of agreements that Google had initiated and entered into with Telstra and Optus, which meant Google’s search services were pre-installed as the…

25 June , 2024

Government Accepts All Recommendations to Strengthen Food and Grocery Code

The Albanese Government will strengthen the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, accepting all recommendations of a recent independent review into the Code as part of a wide?ranging cost?of?living crackdown on anti?competitive behaviour in the food and grocery sector. This is about getting a fair go for families and a fair go for farmers. Our…