Code compliance Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

14 March , 2025

Review: Insurance Brokers Code of Practice

The 2022 Insurance Brokers Code of Practice (the Code) is currently under review. The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) is actively seeking engagement with the review from the consumer sector and has provided the Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) with funding to support the consultation. The Independent Reviewer, Phil Khoury (CKR Consulting), is examining several…

5 February , 2025

Consumer representative wanted for the Car Rental Code Compliance Committee

The Australian Finance Industry Association (AFIA) is looking for a new member to join their Car Rental Code Compliance Committee (CCC) as a consumer representative. This is a particularly important consumer representative opportunity as the AFIA Car Rental Code of Practice has recently been comprehensively updated and will be applicable from April 1st of this…

16 December , 2024

Win for Consumers and Advocates as ASIC Sues HSBC Australia, Alleges “widespread and systemic” failings

HSBC Bank Australia Limited (HSBC Australia) failed to adequately protect customers scammed out of millions of dollars, according to documents filed by ASIC in the Federal Court today. ASIC alleges HSBC Australia failed to have adequate controls in place to prevent and detect unauthorised payments and failed to comply with its obligations to investigate customer…

3 December , 2024

Banking Code Compliance Committee 2025-26 Priorities Consultation

The Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) is developing their priorities for 2025-26 and is inviting interested parties to complete a short survey to share “new or emerging risks, issues or practices that you believe are concerns and causing harm to consumers or leading to poor outcomes”. The survey is open from 2/12/2024 to 7/02/2025 and survey…

22 October , 2024

Consultation Opens on ‘Phase Two’ of Online Safety Codes

Following the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth.), industry associations have been tasked with developing codes of practice to protect Australians from a number of materials online. The draft codes for phase two, covering Classes 1C and 2 materials, have now been released and are available for public comment here. Consultation will be open from October…

18 September , 2024

Consumer Groups Call on NIAA to Strengthen Remote Food Security Strategy

Mandatory code of practice, subsidies for food transportation and increased income support needed A coalition of consumer and indigenous groups is calling on the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to better protect vulnerable residents in remote areas. The organisations have welcomed the proposed National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities, but they…

4 September , 2024

BCCC Releases 2023-2024 Annual Report, Deceased Estates a Focus of Investigation

From the Chair of the Banking Code Compliance Committee: This year we issued three sanctions to three banks for serious and systemic breaches of the Code [relating to deceased estates]. This action underscores our commitment to hold banks accountable for the promises they make under the Code and to respond firmly where we find serious…

22 August , 2024

Inquiry into ‘big box’ retailer price setting

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…

8 July , 2024

Consumers Want a Fair Go for Supermarket Shoppers Too

The Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) says action is needed to give consumers as well as suppliers a fairer go when dealing with supermarkets. QCA spokesperson Ian Jarratt says the Federal Government’s decision to change the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct to help farmers and other suppliers in their dealings s with large supermarkets, highlights…

5 July , 2024

Advocates Argue for Direct Regulation of Communication as an Essential Service

The ACCC response to the latest draft of the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code validates long-held consumer concerns about the suitability of self-regulation to protect telecommunications consumers. The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes and supports the comments of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the May 20 draft of the TCP…

2 July , 2024

Consumer Representative – General Insurance Code Governance Committee

The General Insurance Code Governance Committee (CGC) is an independent body that monitors and enforces insurers’ compliance with the General Insurance Code of Practice. The Code covers many aspects of a consumer’s relationship with their insurer, from buying insurance to making a claim, to providing options to those experiencing financial hardship, to the process for…

26 June , 2024

Advocates Welcome Sanctioning of Westpac for Branch Closure

Financial Counselling Australia welcomes the sanctioning of Westpac for breaching the Banking Code of Practice when it closed its branch in Tennant Creek. The branch was suddenly shut in September 2022 leaving some customers with no access to money. “It was a complete mess and done with no consultation. Some people were unable to buy…