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At the 2025 ACCC National Consumer Congress the Consumers’ Federation of Australia, with help from CPRC’s Chandni Gupta, was proud to present our Consumer Advocacy Award for the best consumer advocacy campaign or project of the past year. The nominees this year were: 1.    10 Successes of the National Scams Campaign – scams are a huge…

Read More Centrepay Reforms Take Home the 2025 Consumer Advocacy Award

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Independents, Greens and other crossbench candidates are pushing the next government to substantially increase income support to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and lift people out of poverty.   With a minority government possible after this election, crossbenchers have signed a joint statement with ACOSS and representatives from the community sector declaring that raising the rate is…

Read More Crossbenchers and community advocates push for increase to income support

News

Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin said she was absolutely delighted that Minister Bill Shorten has announced consumer protections and reforms to Centrepay that restore it to its original purpose; that it should only be used by consumers to make regular voluntary payments for essential bills and expenses. (link to media release) “We have…

Read More New Centrepay Reform Bans Predatory Rent-to-Buy’s in Win for Consumers and Advocates

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BackgroundThe Youpla Group, also called the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund (ACBF) sold funeral insurancepolicies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These were called Youpla funeral funds.When Youpla collapsed in March 2022, many community members could no longer pay for Sorry Business.From July 2024 the Youpla Support Program will replace the existing Treasury Program.The National…

Read More Youpla Support Program Starts Now

Have your say on Centrepay

The Albanese Government has renewed its commitment to Centrepay reform, today announcing a range of short- and long-term priorities to improve the program. Australians who rely on Services Australia’s direct bill paying service Centrepay are encouraged to join advocates, business and other stakeholders to share their views and experiences as part of a nation-wide call…

Read More Community Consultation on Centrepay Reform

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First Nations and other consumer advocates have welcomed the extension of ASIC’s interim Stop Order on Coral Coast Distributors (Cairns) Ptd Ltd trading as Urban Rampage (Urban Rampage) retail stores, where customers enter agreements to pay for goods on credit through Centrepay deductions. The original stop order was imposed because ASIC received complaints about Urban…

Read More Continued Ban of Business Centrepay Use in Remote Australia Welcomed as Advocates Call for Broader Centrepay Reform