Consumer protection

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The federal government is conducting another consultation on the proposed design and implementation of aviation consumer protections. The consultation being undertaken by the Department of Infrastructure and consists of two key elements: CHOICE’s media release on the consultation and the government’s proposals is available here: https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/media/media-releases/2025/september/aviation-consumer-protection-scheme-a-welcome-first-step-but-still-falls-short

Read More Federal government consults on proposed new protections for aviation consumers

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Children are at serious risk of injury if bunk beds are poorly made or assembled. Serious injuries that can happen include fractures, concussion, and strangulation. Standards Australia has released a revised draft standard DR AS/NZS 4220:2025 Bunk beds and other elevated beds for Public Comment (see below).  This Standard specifies strength, durability, stability and general…

Read More Bunk Beds Standard open for public comment

Fraud Alert

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement has recently opened an inquiry into crime as a service – but why is that relevant to consumer organisations? Crime as a Service, also called cybercrime as a service or CaaS, includes things like the acquisition of personal information and the proliferation of fake websites and bulk emails…

Read More Joint Committee Opens Submissions on Crime as a Service

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The eSafety Commissioner has registered new industry-drafted codes which aim to better protect children from a range of harmful and age-inappropriate content, including the clear and present danger posed by mostly unregulated AI-driven companion chatbots. Many of these chatbots are capable of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with minors, and have been alleged to also…

Read More New eSafety Commission Codes Focus on Child Protection

Here to Help

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) is inviting suitable applicants to apply for the role of consumer representative on the Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (COBCCC). Details of the purpose and conditions of the role, including renumeration, are as follows: Purpose of the COBCCC Purpose of the Consumer Representative A Consumer Representative to the…

Read More Call for Expressions of Interest for new COBCCC Consumer Representative

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Home internet and mobile connectivity are now considered essential by the vast majority of Australians. Price is the number one factor when choosing a plan, yet few people are actively checking the market for a better deal.  These are some of the key insights from the new Consumer Sentiment Tracker, commissioned by the peak communications…

Read More Most Consumers Consider Communications an Essential Service

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The Metaverse, an innovative complex virtual environment that’s emerging as the next online frontier, is fraught with risks to children including online bullying, grooming, and identity theft. The new landmark Australian standard AS 5402:2025 Children’s Safety in the Metaverse provides a framework for advancing children’s safety in the Metaverse with a focus on privacy and accessibility.…

Read More Landmark Standard to Empower and Protect Children in the Metaverse

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Australia’s peak communications consumer body, ACCAN, has welcomed news that Optus will pay one of the largest consumer law penalties in Australian history – a $100 million fine, subject to court approval, for unconscionable conduct. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett said, “Unconscionable conduct is a high bar and one that Optus has spectacularly surpassed in its behaviour…

Read More Optus Admits to Unconscionable Conduct, Advocates Welcome ACCC Action but Highlight Need for Strong Telco Regulation

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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…

Read More Advocates Welcome ACCC Review into Unsolicited Selling

Law Cases

Online services platform Mable Technologies Pty Ltd (Mable) has admitted to breaching the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) by using unfair contract terms when connecting people seeking care support to independent support workers. Support services facilitated through Mable include social support, domestic support, nursing services and allied health services. Clients using the platform include participants on…

Read More Mable admits unfair contract terms a breach of consumer law

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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,…

Read More Consumer vulnerability – New standard open for public comment