Consumer protection

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The ACCC has highlighted a range of harms to consumers and small businesses occurring across social media services, including excessive data collection practices, lack of effective dispute resolution options, prevalence of scams, lack of transparency for advertisers and inadequate disclosure of sponsored content by influencers and brands.

Read More ACCC Social Media Report Finds Consumers and Small Businesses Require More Protections

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Australia’s four major banks are failing their customers by taking a ‘variable and…less mature’ approach to scams than expected, with ‘inconsistent and narrow approaches to determining liability’ as well as gaps in how they detect and stop scam payments, according to Report 761 today from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

Read More ASIC Report says Australian Banks are Failing Customers

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Media release first posted 18/04/2023. The ACCC is asking parents and guardians for their views on childcare services in Australia, as part of its year-long inquiry into the sector. Parents and guardians are invited to complete a short online survey to share their experiences when looking for and using childcare services in Australia. The ACCC is seeking…

Read More Parents and Guardians Asked for Their Experience with Childcare

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Below is a media release (12/04/2023) from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding current Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb’s speech to the National Press Club on the need to reform merger laws in Australia. A full transcript of the speech is available from the ACCC’s website here. Australia’s merger laws are no longer fit for…

Read More ACCC: Reform of merger laws critical for Australia’s economic transition

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From Consumer Action Law Centre, Released 03/04/2023. Original here. Consumer advocates around Australia have welcomed moves by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC MP to reform bankruptcy laws.   Last month, consumer advocates attended a Ministerial Roundtable on Personal Insolvency to discuss pressure points in the current system, critical reform areas and longer-term strategic challenges with the Attorney-General and…

Read More Now is the time to make positive reforms to bankruptcy laws say consumer advocates

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From Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee 04/04/2023 Media Release. The Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee (IBCCC) has urged insurance brokers to recognise the importance of reporting breaches following a concerning finding in its latest Annual Data Report. The IBCCC’s report, which looks at the performance of insurance brokers subscribed to the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice, found…

Read More IBCCC Publishes its 2021 Annual Data Report: Insurance brokers need to embrace a culture of reporting

From the Consumer Policy Research Centre, originally released here on 29/03/2023. The latest research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC), has found that most Australians don’t feel businesses are doing enough to keep their data safe. While 84 per cent agree a company should be responsible for keeping their data safe, only 15 per…

Read More 6 Out of 7 Australians Don’t Feel Their Data is Safe with Businesses

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Western Australian Government campaign launched to empower new pet owners to understand their consumer rights 186 consumer complaints received about issues with new pets in the last three years Almost $30,000 total successfully refunded to complainants from 2020 to 2022 WA Commerce Minister Sue Ellery today launched a new pet buyer awareness campaign promoting Western…

Read More New campaign to help pet buyers understand their consumer rights

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After a late-night Senate sitting, Consumer Advocacy groups across Australia are celebrating the passing through the Federal Parliament of long overdue reforms that will protect consumers from falling into payday loans and consumer lease debt traps. The Financial Sector Reform Bill 2022 has finally passed after 6 years of advocacy by the Stop the Debt…

Read More Consumer protections for high-cost and harmful payday loans and consumer leases finally pass Parliament