consumer advocacy Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

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…

2 June , 2025

Consumers Federation of Australia Representative Recognised with Prestigious Standards Award

The annual Standards Australia Standards Awards celebrate excellence in standards development and are presented to those who have made significant contributions to standardisation and demonstrated outstanding service, enabling Standards Australia to attain its objectives. This year CFA Standards representative John Furbank was awarded the W.R. Hebblewhite Medal, Standards Australia’s most esteemed prize. John was recognised…

27 May , 2025

Consumer vulnerability – New standard open for public comment

Vulnerability can affect anyone at any time particularly if the consumer is faced with an unexpected change of circumstance or a particularly urgent or complex situation and information is not transparent and accessible. Standards Australia has released a new draft standard which specifies requirements and guidelines for organizations on how to design and deliver fair,…

21 May , 2025

2025 National Consumer Advocacy Award – Applications Now Open!

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Consumer Advocacy Award. This award recognises the best consumer advocacy campaign or project run by a CFA member organisation during the past year. If your organisation or group has delivered an outstanding campaign or project, we would…

19 May , 2025

Productivity Commission Opens 5 Key Inquiries

The Productivity Commission (PC) has identified 15 priority reform areas for further exploration under the five productivity inquiries commissioned by the Government. The PC is seeking input on these reform areas to inform the draft recommendations in our interim reports. “Boosting productivity is the only sustainable way to improve Australians’ living standards, but productivity growth…

6 May , 2025

Advisory Committee openings at the Therapeutic Goods Administration

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking applications from professionals with relevant expertise in medicine and science, and consumers with relevant expertise in consumer perspectives and issues. Successful applicants will contribute significantly towards the TGA’s regulatory functions by providing independent expert advice on matters across a broad spectrum of issues relating to medicines, medical…

14 April , 2025

Unsolicited door-to-door sales the target of Australia’s first Designated Complaint

Consumer Action Law Centre is calling for a nationwide ban on unsolicited selling in the first ever designated ‘super’ complaint presented to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). A designated complaint is a new power that allows complainants to raise an issue with the ACCC, which the ACCC is required to consider and come back with…

17 March , 2025

Time to scrap ‘consumer protection’ rules that don’t protect consumers

Australia’s peak communications consumer body, ACCAN, has today called for the weak and ineffective industry-drafted Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code to be scrapped in favour of robust and enforceable industry standards that better protect Australian consumers. Communications are an essential service – yet the rules which exist to protect communications consumers are failing in their…

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 0 comments

Consumers’ Federation of Australia on life-support, urges government action to protect consumers during cost-of-living crisis

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) urgently calls on the Australian government to fund its work as the peak body for consumers in the forthcoming budget. For over 50 years, Consumers’ Federation of Australia has been a vital safeguard against corporate misconduct, ensuring fair treatment and protections for consumers. The peak body for consumer organisations,…

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…