Accessibility Archives - Page 5 of 14 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

22 April , 2024

Financial Counselling Industry Fund Launches

More Australians will now have access to support from financial counsellors with the launch of the Financial Counselling Industry Fund (FCIF). The FCIF is the result of a collaboration between the financial counselling sector and a number of industries and companies – Australian Banking Association member banks, Australian Energy Council, Energy Networks Australia, Insurance Council…

19 April , 2024

The Price Is Not Right: ICAN’s Queensland Supermarket Submission

As a provider of education, advocacy, and financial counselling services to people across North and Far North Queensland, ICAN recently provided a submission to the Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing in Queensland. Our submission focused on the significant price differences people experience when shopping depending on whether they are based in metropolitan Queensland or remote and…

18 April , 2024

CALD Communities in need of urgent supports for energy transition

A new report released today has found improvements are needed to the quality of advice and supports, and to the service provided by retailers and other energy service providers, or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) consumers risk being left behind in the energy transition. The joint Insights Report by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) and Sydney Community Forum (SCF) is…

17 April , 2024

Consumer Advocates urge for more than 3 Designated Complainants

The designated complaints regime provides the potential for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to address systemic and emerging harms including those that may not fit neatly into a case study or set of existing regulations for the ACCC to investigate and take action.

15 April , 2024

The 2024 Ruby Hutchison Memorial Lecture – 50 Years of Consumer Advocacy

This year’s Ruby Hutchison Memorial lecture shone a light on just how much the consumer protection movement together with regulators has achieved in the last 50 years, and the complex consumer issues we’re still seeking answers to today. Bringing in a musical theme and recognising the rockstar influence of the speakers, the ACCC Deputy Chair…

9 April , 2024

Life Insurance Annual Data and Compliance Report 2022-2023: The Fall and Rise of Breaches

Total breaches of Code obligations have increased for a third consecutive year according to the latest report released by the Life Insurance Code Compliance Committee (Life CCC). Despite the total breaches rising by 9%, the Annual Industry Data and Compliance Report found that the number of customers impacted by breaches declined between 1 July 2022 and 30…

5 April , 2024

Submission Call for National Competition Policy

The Productivity Commission is undertaking a study to assess the economic effects of national competition reforms. It is now inviting community members to share perspectives, experiences and expertise on national competition matters and modelling competition reforms. The Commission’s review is occurring against a backdrop of declining productivity growth in the past decade. As such, a…

2 April , 2024

ACCAN’s Quick Guide for Consumers to the new Financial Hardship Standard

The telecommunications regulator, the ACMA, has developed a new regulation called the Telecommunications (Financial Hardship) Industry Standard (the FH standard). The FH Standard will commence on March 29, and compliance is mandatory.

25 March , 2024

ACCC Announces Changes to Wholesale Telecommunications Regulation

The ACCC has released its final report outlining the findings of an inquiry into whether nine wholesale telecommunications services should continue to be regulated. Access to telecommunications services in Australia is usually unregulated unless the services are declared. In deciding whether to declare a service, the ACCC must be satisfied that declaration would promote the long-term interests…

21 March , 2024

Queensland Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing Open

Submissions are open for an inquiry being undertaken by the Supermarket Pricing Select Committee which was established by the Queensland Parliament on 7 March 2024. Information about the committee can be accessed here.

The committee is calling for submissions to the Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing by 10am on Tuesday, 2 April 2024. Information about how to make a submission to the inquiry and planned public proceedings is provided below.

14 March , 2024

Advocacy Groups Urge Action for a Robust Aged Care Act

Original media release by and for COTA (12/03/2024). Federal Goverment must deliver robust Aged Care Act without delay. Rights of older people have been ignored for too long The Federal Government must finally deliver a new Aged Care Act that protects and enforces the rights of older people, allows visitors in aged care at all…

13 March , 2024

Digital Platforms Need to Take Responsibility, CHOICE Urges Government Action

Original media release by and from CHOICE (13/03/2024). Big tech responsible for big losses: 249% increase in social media scam losses since 2020 CHOICE calls for strong rules to force digital platforms to rein in scams Consumer group CHOICE is demanding urgent government action to force digital platforms to prevent scam losses, after the National…