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The latest round of indexation starting 20 September, 2024 – including Age Pension, Carer Payment and Commonwealth Rental Assistance – is a welcome and necessary ongoing step towards alleviating cost-of-living pressures, but further action is needed to address financial pressures faced by older people, says the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia. COTA Australia CEO…

Read More Pension Indexation and Commonwealth Rent Assistance Boost Give Some Relief to Older Australians

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The growing rate of scams and the devastating impact they are having on Australians has been recognised by the Federal Government through the establishment of the SMS Sender ID Register – but it should be made mandatory. ACCAN has welcomed this important step in the fight against scams but urges the government to  ensure that…

Read More Consumer Advocates Call for Mandatory SMS Anti-Scam Registry

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The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is consulting on a proposed technical methodology for comparing the energy performance of residential space heaters (called “the comparison methodology”). The comparison methodology is a technical foundation from which the energy performance of different space heaters could be compared. It identifies how to define and…

Read More Consultation Opens on the Energy Performance of Space Heaters

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The Justice and Equity Centre (‘JEC’) and People with Disability Australia (‘PWDA’) welcome today’s White Paper announcing the Government’s intentions to develop new Disability Standards for air travel. This is a significant first step in addressing longstanding discrimination by airlines which has prevented people with disability from being able to travel by air equally with…

Read More Advocates Welcome New Aviation Transport Standards, Urge Genuine Co-Design with People with Disability

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The Senate Standing Committee on Economics has recently opened an inquiry into the price setting of ‘big box’ retailers with submissions open now until 27 September 2024. The Committee’s Terms of Reference for the inquiry and subsequent report to the Australian Senate is: a.  the market behaviours of such retailers, including price negotiation practices, abuse…

Read More Inquiry into ‘big box’ retailer price setting

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The New South Wales government has introduced groundbreaking legislation that imposes the strictest obligations on strata managers in Australia regarding the disclosure of insurance commissions. This legislative move follows a series of public concerns, including those raised by ABC’s 7:30 Report and ACIL, which earlier this year referred 146 instances of misconduct to regulatory authorities.…

Read More NSW Government Proposes Nation’s Strictest Disclosure Obligations for Strata Managers

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Australia’s peak communications consumer body, ACCAN, welcomes today’s joint announcement from major telcos Telstra and Optus that the shutdown of 3G networks will be delayed until 28 October. ACCAN yesterday called on the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland to delay the shutdown due to health and safety concerns particularly with the ongoing access to triple zero services…

Read More Advocates Welcome Extension of 3G Network

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With ongoing cost of living pressures impacting household budgets, the Consumer Affairs Victoria has come up with some tips to help you become an informed and savvy consumer and to save some money along the way. When you shop, think carefully before you buy. Learn more about consumer guarantees here. Save at the checkout by…

Read More Top Consumer Tips to Beat Cost of Living Pressures

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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…

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

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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…

Read More Mandatory Safety Standards for Infant Products Introduced

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The Albanese Government has released draft legislation to reform Australia’s merger rules and boost competition and productivity in our economy. The reforms will make merger approval system faster, stronger, simpler, more targeted and more transparent. Following extensive consultation, the draft legislation released today sets out the legal framework for the new system which will commence…

Read More Next step towards merger reform for a more competitive economy

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The Albanese Government has approved three consumer and small business advocates as designated complainants. Designated complainants will be able to submit complaints to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) about significant or systemic market issues affecting Australian consumers or small businesses. When a designated complaint is lodged, the ACCC will be required to consider…

Read More New ‘Designated Complainants’ Appointed by Albanese Government