consumer advocacy

Post thumbnail

The majority of Australia’s consumer regulators are missing the opportunity to act as an early warning system for dodgy businesses, according to new research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC). The Am I The Only One? report, released today, finds that most Australian consumer regulators do not publish regular complaints data in an accessible…

Read More Calls Continue for Consumer Regulators to Release Data

Isolated shining metal shopping trolley without anything located separately on yellow background Isolated shining metal shopping trolley without anything located separately on yellow background

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…

Read More Consumer Groups Call on NIAA to Strengthen Remote Food Security Strategy

problem, solution, help-2731501.jpg problem, solution, help-2731501.jpg

Consumer Action Law Centre, CHOICE, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and Super Consumers Australia, have welcomed the announcement from the Albanese Government of a consultation on a draft bill starting today, for the proposed Scams Prevention Framework. “I congratulate Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and the Albanese Government for pushing ahead with these scam…

Read More Advocates Welcome New Scam Framework, Urge Consumer Safeguards be at the Front and Centre

pexels-photo-762545-762545.jpg pexels-photo-762545-762545.jpg

Changes to Triple Zero rules announced by Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland today are an important step to enhance public safety. ACCAN – Australia’s peak body for communications consumers – welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister that several new requirements will apply to mobile carriers in relation to the Triple Zero service. The range of…

Read More New Rules for Triple Zero Services a Win for Public Safety

Post thumbnail

Older people are urging a bipartisan approach from the Federal Government and Opposition to urgently introduce a new rights-based Aged Care Act. Organisations representing older Australians and their carers say the Aged Care Act needs to be introduced into Federal Parliament this sitting fortnight if laws are to be passed this year that address the…

Read More “Stop dithering on older people’s rights” – Self-Advocates Urge MPs to Act Now on Aged Care Reform

g84ca6b4110b949972a5d9e0f3a31745340a3930cfb77b3520d8ec4a32275d91bc43a93e23ca1bb02f84482007f4762f27631f4c0f7d1f4db8f7a1c624ec294c4_1280-1281632.jpg g84ca6b4110b949972a5d9e0f3a31745340a3930cfb77b3520d8ec4a32275d91bc43a93e23ca1bb02f84482007f4762f27631f4c0f7d1f4db8f7a1c624ec294c4_1280-1281632.jpg

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

money, piggy bank, coins-2180338.jpg money, piggy bank, coins-2180338.jpg

A new report published today from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reveals a “shameful neglect of thousands of banking customers who have been scammed through no fault of their own and collectively lost millions of dollars”, says Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Stephanie Tonkin. The report, Anti-scam practices of banks outside the four major…

Read More ASIC Report Reveals “shameful neglect” of Banks to Customers

gc66974d66e644582add6f4ce0dab4e885a3b32504ead2cfc1480b02ba6c5fdf9f115a59743ade8d0915d24ef9dd28f9903b976315f6a5a17d3a95bde4597ae9d_1280-3948122.jpg gc66974d66e644582add6f4ce0dab4e885a3b32504ead2cfc1480b02ba6c5fdf9f115a59743ade8d0915d24ef9dd28f9903b976315f6a5a17d3a95bde4597ae9d_1280-3948122.jpg

Empowering older people and people with disability to participate effectively in decisions affecting the quality of their lives is a keystone of a civil society. The recent Royal Commissions on ageing and disability highlighted the importance of government-funded advocacy services in the empowerment of older people and people with disability when they need to access government-funded…

Read More Improving Advocacy by Aged Care and Disability Services – New Standard Published

report, expenses management, cost deduction-3050965.jpg report, expenses management, cost deduction-3050965.jpg

CHOICE survey of 6000 consumers reveals many businesses are giving consumers the run-around A new survey of 6000 CHOICE supporters has found that almost 3 in 4 (73%) have experienced poor customer service from a business they dealt with in the preceding year, and 85% believed that customer service provided by businesses is getting worse. …

Read More Over 70% of Consumers Experience Poor Customer Service

pexels-photo-5934213-5934213.jpg pexels-photo-5934213-5934213.jpg

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) received a record number of complaints in 2023-24 after disputes to the ombudsman service increased 9 per cent to more than 105,000 for the year. Complaints about scams, online and personal transaction accounts, credit cards, and personal loans all saw significant increases. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin…

Read More Advocates Continue Call for Reimbursement Policy as Scam Complaints to AFCA go ‘off the charts’

g3f5a8b3e0d6f627b090f638a86663d3c6de6903012b6edb8ba7c2f62e9eca89322254738bd514fd35715ec2177b136d219caddcf4b5ff0b0f9a5b4bedf94311b_1280-2729695.jpg g3f5a8b3e0d6f627b090f638a86663d3c6de6903012b6edb8ba7c2f62e9eca89322254738bd514fd35715ec2177b136d219caddcf4b5ff0b0f9a5b4bedf94311b_1280-2729695.jpg

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is establishing a Telco Accessibility Task Force to remove the barriers to effective dispute resolution in the telecommunications industry and improve the industry’s ability to address consumer issues. We are calling for expressions of interest to join the Task Force from cross-sector leaders and decision-makers at telecommunications providers, consumer groups, relevant…

Read More Telco Accessibility Taskforce Accepting Expressions of Interest

At the 2024 ACCC National Consumer Congress, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) 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 all strong contenders: 1.     Fair Call, direct regulation for telcos – formed from a coalition of consumer advocates…

Read More Design to Disrupt and Weathering the Storm Awarded the 2024 Consumer Advocacy Award