2024 has been a busy year for CFA with the departure of longstanding Chair Gerard Brody and Deputy Chair Chandni Gupta. Following Gerard’s resignation, Dr Gareth Downing has taken on the role of Chair, with Gordon Renouf stepping back into the role of Deputy Chair at the recent CFA AGM. We’d like to take this…
Read More Consumers’ Federation of Australia: End of Year Message
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The ACCC has conducted a sweep of sales advertising by Australian businesses online and in store and is concerned that a number of claims about the size and scope of discounts may be misleading consumers. This follows consumer reports about a range of concerns during the recent Black Friday sales period about the veracity of…
Read More ACCC Black Friday Sweep Finds Concerning Number of Misleading Claims
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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…
Read More Win for Consumers and Advocates as ASIC Sues HSBC Australia, Alleges “widespread and systemic” failings
Consumer Protection
Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand Consumer Affairs Ministers met on Tuesday 10 December 2024 to renew their commitment to strengthen consumer protections across the country. Ministers attending the meeting, chaired by Commonwealth Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, acknowledged the substantial progress on key reforms to the Australian Consumer Law over the past year, including work to strengthen…
Read More Consumer Affairs Ministers Set 2025 Agenda, Consumer Protection to remain at the forefront
Consulting
The ACCC has welcomed today’s start of consultation by the Australian Government on the implementation of a new digital competition regime in Australia. The consultation comes after the Government’s in-principle agreement to competition reforms recommended by the ACCC to address harms caused by digital platforms. “This is an important opportunity for consumers, businesses and other interested parties…
Read More Consultation Opens for New Digital Competition Reform in Australia
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The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, allowing them to engage in cooperative conduct under an integrated alliance. The ACCC has also accepted a court enforceable undertaking from Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways in relation to the conduct. Under the interim authorisation, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways can commence marketing and selling…
Read More Interim Authorisation for Flights and Marketing for Doha to Australia Granted by ACCC
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Global average concentrations of all major long-lived greenhouse gases continue to rise in the atmosphere, driving further climate change says a new report by CSIRO: State of the Climate. This eighth biennial State of the Climate report is a synthesis of the science that underpins our understanding of Australia’s climate. It is intended to inform…
Read More Greenhouses Gases Continue to Rise – 2023 the Warmest Year on Record
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The ACCC is putting businesses on notice that it is focusing in on problematic advertising practices which target participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The ACCC has been working with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to identify advertising which may be in breach of the Australian…
Read More ACCC Warns NDIS Providers Against Misleading Advertising
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Domestic airline passengers face less choice and higher airfares following Rex’s recent exit from services between metropolitan cities, the ACCC’s latest Domestic Airline Competition report has found. Since Rex suspended operations on its services between metropolitan cities on 31 July 2024, the average airfare on all Major City routes has increased by 13.3 per cent to September…
Read More Less Competition and Higher Prices as Rex Suspends Operations
SCAM ALERT
The National Anti-Scam Centre is warning Australians that criminals are impersonating charities and offering fake financial assistance schemes to target people experiencing financial hardship. No Interest Loan Schemes are offered by trusted charities such as Good Shepherd and the Salvation Army and are intended to support low-income earners and people in hardship who are experiencing…
Read More People in Hardship Targeted in Criminal Financial Assistance Scams
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The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space, where you can socialise, collaborate, learn, and play with others across different digital worlds. The metaverse may offer new opportunities for creativity, education, entertainment, and commerce, but there are also new challenges where metaverse technologies can have a significant impact on young users’ mental health and well-being. Children…
Read More Children’s safety in the metaverse – Draft standard open for Public Comment
TIME for CHANGE
The two major consumer protections announced today -the ban on unfair trading and consultation on penalties for breaches by traders and service providers of the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law- will help create a fairer marketplace for all Australians. That’s the verdict of Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin who welcomed the announcement from…
Read More Consumer Advocates Welcome Government Announcement on Unfair Trading and Consultations
