Consultations and Review Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

6 January , 2025

Aviation Charter of Rights needs more to take off: CHOICE

CHOICE responds to the Federal Government’s announcement releasing the draft Aviation Customer Rights Charter for public consultation. Quotes attributable to Rosie Thomas, Director of Campaigns at CHOICE: “CHOICE welcomes the release of a proposed Aviation Customer Rights Charter. The announcement is an important step towards giving consumers clear rights when flights don’t go to plan.”…

6 December , 2024

Consultation Opens for New Digital Competition Reform in Australia

The ACCC has welcomed today’s start of consultation by the Australian Government on the implementation of a new digital competition regime in Australia. The consultation comes after the Government’s in-principle agreement to competition reforms recommended by the ACCC to address harms caused by digital platforms. “This is an important opportunity for consumers, businesses and other interested parties…

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…

26 November , 2024

Child-Resistant Packaging – Draft Standard Open for Public Comment

Child-resistant packaging is used to create a physical barrier between a child and a potentially hazardous product. Various types of packaging are recognized as being child-resistant, based on performance testing against standards for specific product categories and packaging types. Since this type of packaging was introduced, the incidence of accidental ingestion of potentially hazardous products…

25 November , 2024

RSPCA Re-Brand Farming Welfare Certification Scheme

The ACCC is currently holding consultations for RSPCA Australia’s newly lodged certified trade marks (CTMs). From the ACCC: The marks are intended to indicate that products marked with the RSPCA certified CTMs have been produced under the RSPCA Certified Scheme. According to RSPCA Australia, the RSPCA Certified Scheme is: “a farm animal welfare certification scheme…

20 November , 2024

Consultations Open on Proposed Unfair Trading Prohibitions

Building on an earlier consultation regarding the extent and nature of unfair trading practices in Australia, the Federal Government is seeking feedback on the proposed design of both general and specific prohibitions on unfair practices. Currently proposed changes to the Australian Consumer Law are based on both general in-principal amendments and some specific prohibitions targeting…

17 October , 2024

Children’s safety in the metaverse – Draft standard open for Public Comment

The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space, where you can socialise, collaborate, learn, and play with others across different digital worlds. The metaverse may offer new opportunities for creativity, education, entertainment, and commerce, but there are also new challenges where metaverse technologies can have a significant impact on young users’ mental health and well-being. Children…

2 October , 2024

ACCC seeks Consultation on Potential Competition Concerns with Sigma/Chemist Warehouse Acquisition

The ACCC is seeking views on a proposed court-enforceable undertaking offered by Sigma Healthcare Limited (ASX: SIG) in relation to its proposed acquisition of Chemist Warehouse Group Holdings. Sigma is one of the largest wholesalers of prescription medicines, over the counter and front of store products. Sigma is also a franchisor of pharmacies under banners…

17 September , 2024

Space heaters – Have your say on performance comparisons of residential space heaters

There is currently no easy way for consumers to compare the energy use, energy efficiency, running cost or greenhouse gas emissions of different heater types, e.g. air conditioners (heat pumps), gas space heaters, and electric resistance heaters. Space heating accounts for around a third of residential energy use in Australia and New Zealand. Space heating…

28 August , 2024

Consultation Opens on the Energy Performance of Space Heaters

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…

8 August , 2024

Consultation on TIO’s Proposed Changes to the Terms of Reference

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is proposing amendments to their Terms of Reference in response to the 2022 Independent Review, correcting drafting issues, and recent legislative change. From the TIO (original here): The proposed changes are limited to responding to recent legislative change, implementing recommendations from the 2022 Independent Review and correcting drafting issues. We…

23 April , 2024

Automated Driving System Consultation Open

The National Transport Commission (NTC) and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) have been working with state and territory on an Automated Vehicle Safety Law (AVSL) and are now looking for feedback on the regulatory framework as a whole, in addition to safety and consumer issues. The consultation paper…