ACCC Archives - Page 12 of 28 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

21 August , 2023

Airport Finances Impacted by COVID-19

Due to COVID-19, all Australian airports have recorded noticeable drops in their financial performances since 2018-2019 with Sydney and Melbourne airports by far the most negatively affected with both airports profit margins dropping by 48% in 2021-2022.
Unfortunately, the data airports are required to submit to the ACCC lack the detail necessary to determine if or how much their natural monopoly is being used – something both the ACCC and airlines have raised as concerns.

18 August , 2023

Regulated Water Charges in Murray-Darling Basin Fell in Real Terms 2021-2022

Regulated water charges varied substantially between the different states in the Murray-Darling Basin in 2021-22 as wet conditions across the Basin kept water availability high, the ACCC’s annual Water Monitoring Report 2021-22 shows.

The Murray-Darling Basin focused report monitors regulated water charges, compliance with the water rules by infrastructure operators, and ‘transformation’ arrangements that allow irrigators to convert an irrigation right into a standalone water access entitlement, held by the irrigator or traded to another person.

15 August , 2023

Submission to House of Representatives Inquiry calls for improvements to grocery unit pricing

The Queensland Consumers Association’s submission (#56) to a House of Representatives Inquiry says changes are needed to the grocery unit pricing (pricing per unit of measure) system to make it much easier for consumers to compare grocery prices and values.

The submission also strongly supports the Consumers Federation of Australia’s submission to the inquiry which includes support for demand-side initiatives to promote competition and recommendations on unit pricing.

4 August , 2023

Win for Consumers: Anti-Avoidance Provision Bill Commended to the House

After many years of campaigning against the damaging practices of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) schemes, the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury Hon. Andrew Leigh MP has commended the Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 3) Bill 2023, partly designed to close loopholes utilised by BNPLs, to the House of Representatives.

1 August , 2023

Meta Companies Penalised $20m for Onavo Protect VPN’s Misleading Claims

Virtual Private Networks or VPNs are a method by which people can more securely use and access public internet connections, reduce some communication costs, and bypass internet censorship. The privacy and protection of personal information is an important selling point of VPNs and one that was used to sell Onavo Protect in the Google and…

31 July , 2023

Scam Alert – Loyalty Points Program Customers Targeted

The National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) is warning of a new text-based scam targeting loyalty program customers with Qantas Frequent Flyer, Telstra, and Coles. This warning comes after a little over 200 were lodged with Scamwatch in the last four months.

31 July , 2023

Record penalties of $438m ordered against Phoenix Institute and CTI for acting unconscionably and misleading students

The Federal Court has today imposed record penalties of $438m against former vocational college Phoenix Institute of Australia Pty Ltd (Phoenix) and its marketing arm Community Training Initiatives Pty Ltd (CTI) in proceedings brought by the ACCC and the Commonwealth.

14 July , 2023

ACCC Publishes Draft Guidance to Improve Integrity Business’ Environmental Claims

The ACCC today published draft guidance to improve the integrity of environmental and sustainability claims made by businesses and protect consumers from ‘greenwashing’.

The draft guidance aims to address the concerning conduct identified by the ACCC’s recent greenwashing internet sweep, which found 57 per cent of businesses reviewed were making potentially misleading environmental claims.

14 July , 2023

Interim Authorisation for Electricity Industry to Coordinate Maintenance

The ACCC has granted interim authorisation for the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and electricity industry participants in the National Electricity Market to collaborate to ensure reliability of electricity supply during Australia’s transition towards renewable electricity.

10 July , 2023

ACCC Inquiry Invites Views on Data Broker Industry

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is calling on consumers, businesses and interested stakeholders to provide submissions about data broker services in Australia, as part of its five-year digital platform services inquiry.

6 July , 2023

Pricing Practices and Operating Costs of Childcare Services to be examined, as Latest ACCC Report Confirms Fees Outpace Inflation

Original media release from the ACCC, published 5/07/2023. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has examined the price and availability of childcare services, how households select childcare services and the impact of Government contributions in its interim report, published today. It draws on information collected from a range of childcare providers around Australia as well…

4 July , 2023

National Anti-Scam Centre’s First Fusion Cell to Disrupt Investment Scams

Original media release from the ACCC, 03/07/2023. The National Anti-Scam Centre will coordinate an investment scam fusion cell to combat the growing problem of investment scams, which are costing Australians more than $1 billion a year. The fusion cell will be led by the ACCC and ASIC and include representatives from the banks, telecommunications industry…