Everyday Consumer Archives - Page 30 of 106 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

Image 13 April , 2023

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

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…

Image 11 April , 2023

COTA: Don’t lock vulnerable Australians out of banking

The trend towards digital and cashless banking is already negatively impacting many vulnerable Australians as COTA (Council on the Ageing) highlighted in their recent media release, as seen below: The closure of cash services at bank branches risks cutting off access to vital and basic banking services for many older Australians, particularly our most vulnerable,…

Image 11 April , 2023

Direct Debit for Telcos and Utilities a Problem for Vulnerable Consumers

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), along with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), has found that while direct debit may work for some consumers direct debits automatic system and lack of flexibility created unfair additional costs and financial distress for vulnerable consumers. In a media release (05/04/2023) ACCAN said: A thriving and competitive…

Image 3 April , 2023

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

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…

Image 29 March , 2023

TIO Submission for Digital Platforms Ombudsman

Following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Digital Platform Services inquiry in 2019, and the Treasury’s recent follow-up consultation the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) placed a submission late February 2023 to expand their remit from telecommunications to digital platform services (e.g. search engines, apps). The TIO has supported the proposal for a Digital Platforms…

Image 29 March , 2023

Save Sorry Business Day of Action

March 28th was a day of action for First Nations advocates a year after the federal government established an interim scheme so that some of the families harmed by Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund/Youpla could conduct the important cultural practice of Sorry Business. The Save Sorry Business coalition used this day of action to call for…

Image 28 March , 2023

‘Risk to gas consumers of declining demand’

Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) engaged Boardroom Energy to research the problems for consumers that shifts away from gas will likely cause. This is especially important because gas networks are shared assets, if more people leave the gas network due to decarbonisation and changes to energy access and pricing then remaining gas users are likely to…

Image 23 March , 2023

Australians want super paid on time

The following is a media release from Super Consumers Australia, released 21/03/2023 Super Consumers’ national consumer survey finds that two in three Australians agree that super should be paid at the same time as wages. This is in contrast to the three months the law currently allows employers to pay super. Super Consumers Australia is…

Image 17 March , 2023

Consumers International Whitepaper – ‘Consumer protection and empowerment for a clean energy future’

Consumers International has recently released a white paper on ‘Consumer protection and empowerment for a clean energy future’ centred on the “twin challenge” of switching to sustainable and affordable alternatives in an increasingly shorter timeframe while ensuring consumers are represented and helped through and with the process. The report focuses on how “consumer protection and…

7 March , 2023

CFA submission on Seafood Country-of-Origin Labelling

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has made a submission to the Department of Industry, Science & Resources on Country-of-Origin Labelling for seafood in hospitality settings. CFA considers that information about seafood origin will help consumers make more informed food choices in hospitality settings. Clearly, given a choice, some consumers may change their menu option if…

19 February , 2023

Urgent action needed to help grocery shoppers save money

The Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) wants action now from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Albanese government to make it much easier for consumers to manage the cost of living and grocery price inflation crises by getting better value when shopping for groceries. QCA’s spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says the results of a…

16 February , 2023

New data reveals 44% of Australian shoppers surveyed are using unit pricing to reduce grocery spending

CHOICE shares tips to combat rising grocery bills with unit pricing New data from CHOICE has found 44% of Australian shoppers surveyed are using unit pricing to reduce their grocery spending amidst the rise in cost of living. “With cost of living prices continuing to rise, everyone is on the lookout for ways to save…