Consumer Action Law Centre Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

30 October , 2025

Advocates Call for Immediate Crypto ATM Ban as Scam Victims are ‘robbed in broad daylight’

Crypto ATMs are a clear vector for scam activity focusing on older victims*, charging eye-boggling fees and causing massive harms – “the Albanese Government should do the right thing and ban them now” says Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Stephanie Tonkin. AUSTRAC reports Australia’s crypto ATMs handle 150,000 transactions moving close to $275 million a year…

7 July , 2025

Centrepay Reforms Take Home the 2025 Consumer Advocacy Award

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…

18 June , 2025

Advocates Welcome ACCC Review into Unsolicited Selling

Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Stephanie Tonkin says she is thrilled by the decision of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to launch a detailed review into the national impact and harms of unsolicited selling, consultation which opens today. “This decision by our national, economy-wide regulator shows the dynamic power of the ‘designated complaint’ super-complaint…

23 April , 2025

Cost of Living Crisis the top priority for 2025 Election

Consumer Action Law Centre has revealed a list of its top consumer-centric priorities to make life fairer and better for all Australians, ahead of the upcoming federal Election. “This Federal Election is all about the cost-of-living, and no matter who steps into government it’s vital that they prioritise relieving the harsh financial burdens now being felt by…

13 March , 2025

Scam losses fall, but the cost is still too high

Consumer Action Law Centre says a report released today from the National Anti-Scam Centre, Targeting scams, reveals a welcome fall in the value of reported scams losses for 2024 (down by 25.9% to $2.03 billion). Still, the huge sum lost by nearly half a million victims, in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, is deeply concerning. “While…

13 March , 2025

AFCA empowered to investigate all banks involved in a scam

Assistant Treasurer, Stephen Jones has announced strengthened pathways for victims to seek compensation where wrongdoing has occurred. A Ministerial Direction announced yesterday, will empower the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) to investigate every bank involved in the scam, both the sending and receiving bank. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin thanked the Assistant Treasurer for his…

14 February , 2025

Advocates welcome scam laws, but highlight need for reimbursement

Consumer advocates say the passing of the Scams Prevention Framework (SPF) fills a gaping hole in the law and in time should protect many Australians from falling victim to the scourge of scams. But thousands of future victims -many of whom will lose everything to sophisticated scams- have an uphill battle for redress. “I am…

15 January , 2025

Joint Submission Urges Law Reform and Mandatory Industry Action

This is a joint submission made on behalf of:• Consumer Action Law Centre• CHOICE• The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network• Financial Rights Legal Centre• Super Consumers Australia• Financial Counselling Australia• Westjustice• Consumer Credit Legal Service WA Our organisations are pleased to have the opportunity to provide our feedback to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee. We…

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

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

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…

26 October , 2024

Advocates Welcome Flood Inquiry Report, Urge Government to Act Now

Consumer groups have welcomed the release of the Final Report of the Standing Committee on Economics’ Inquiry into Insurer’s responses to 2022 Major Floods. The groups have called on the insurance sector and the Insurance Council of Australia to accept all the recommendations and implement changes to their internal processes and the Code of Practice…

16 October , 2024

Consumer Advocates Welcome Government Announcement on Unfair Trading and Consultations

The two major consumer protections announced today -the ban on unfair trading and consultation on penalties for breaches by traders and service providers of the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law- will help create a fairer marketplace for all Australians. That’s the verdict of Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin who welcomed the announcement from…