ACCC

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CFA has made a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Button Battery Taskforce. The ACCC launched the taskforce to investigate the safety of button batteries and the products that contain them. Button batteries pose a severe injury risk for young children and other vulnerable groups, like the elderly and those with dementia,…

Read More Consumers’ Federation of Australia responds to proposed button battery regulation options

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The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA), the peak body for consumer groups nationally, has made two submissions to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) responding to authorisation applications from Australia’s banks and supermarkets. Businesses can seek authorisation from the ACCC where conduct risks breaching competition laws but is in the public interest. More than…

Read More Consumers’ Federation of Australia responds to COVID19 cooperation proposals from banks & supermarkets

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Price gouging during the coronavirus crisis has been rampant. We’re calling on sellers big and small as well as online platforms to cease and desist.  CHOICE article. Last updated 20 March 2020. It may surprise you to learn that price gouging – jacking up prices for essential goods when supplies are low – is technically…

Read More CHOICE calls on sellers and online platforms to put an end to price gouging

Bananas on a supermarket shelf Bananas on a supermarket shelf

Supermarket operators will be able to coordinate immediately to ensure consumers have reliable and fair access to groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic following the ACCC’s granting of interim authorisation. The interim authorisation will allow supermarkets to coordinate with each other when working with manufacturers, suppliers, and transport and logistics providers. The purpose of this is…

Read More Supermarkets to work together to ensure grocery supply

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Australians should be aware scammers are adapting existing technology to play on people’s fears around coronavirus and selling products claiming to prevent or cure the virus. Since 1 January 2020, the ACCC’s Scamwatch has received 94 reports of scams about coronavirus, but warns figures are starting to climb. Scamwatch has received multiple reports of phishing scams…

Read More Warning on COVID-19 scams

A gold watch on a table with button batteries scattered around the watch A gold watch on a table with button batteries scattered around the watch

Consumer household products with button batteries, including children’s toys, should have secure battery safety compartments, child resistant packaging and clear information and warning labels, under proposed new mandatory standards put forward by the ACCC for consultation. Button battery safety is a key part of the ACCC’s Product Safety Priorities for 2020, which show how the ACCC will…

Read More Product safety priorities focus on button battery safety

A person walking though an airport pulling luggage. There are planes on the tarmac that can be seen out of the window behind the person A person walking though an airport pulling luggage. There are planes on the tarmac that can be seen out of the window behind the person

The ACCC has issued advice for consumers and businesses on their rights and obligations if events, flights or travel services are cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), or if people wish to cancel their travel plans.  If events, flights or other travel services such as cruises are cancelled, the ACCC expects refunds or other remedy such…

Read More Advice on event and travel cancellations due to COVID-19

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ACCC Chair Rod Sims announced the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities for 2020 in a speech to the annual Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA). These priorities provide focus to the ACCC’s enforcement and advocacy work, as well as develop solutions to deliver benefits for all consumers. The 2020 priorities include: Competition and consumer issues in the…

Read More ACCC releases its compliance and enforcement priorities for 2020

The dashboard of a car; the airbags have deployed and are deflated The dashboard of a car; the airbags have deployed and are deflated

About 3.56 million defective Takata airbags have now been replaced as part of the compulsory recall, but more than seven percent remain outstanding and the ACCC is urging consumers not to ignore or delay responding to recall notices.    Figures released on Friday show about 3.56 million airbags in 2.59 million vehicles were rectified as at…

Read More More than 250,000 vehicles with defective Takata airbags remaining for replacement

A view of the steering wheel of a car from behind the driver A view of the steering wheel of a car from behind the driver

ACCC Media Release 3/20: Honda and Mitsubishi have commenced voluntary recalls for vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2000 due to a serious safety concern relating to faulty airbags. These vehicles may have been fitted with potentially deadly Takata NADI 5-AT airbags. There is a risk these airbags may misdeploy in an accident and cause metal…

Read More Honda and Mitsubishi recall 42,000 cars due to serious airbag safety risk

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In her address, Delia Rickard noted that issues raised by consumer organisations with the ACCC commonly form part of its priorities for compliance and enforcement. Delia noted that consumer groups have recently raised issues such as funeral services, debt collection, product safety and sustainability which will be considered for future priorities. Other trends and issues identified by…

Read More ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard provides address to CFA’s annual general meeting