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In Australia alone, more than seven million tonnes of food is wasted each year—a third of all food produced. Through Food Systems Horizons, The University of Queensland and CSIRO are using science to help Australians understand the food system, their roles in it, and who they need to work with to develop a more sustainable,…
Read More Food Loss and Waste
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Today’s interest rate rise will add further pressure to Australians already struggling with housing costs and rising living expenses, with financial counsellors warning that more households may be pushed into financial distress. Demand for help is rising. In February there were?15,857 calls and online chats to the National Debt Helpline (NDH), the highest number recorded for the…
Read More People in financial distress urged to seek help as interest rates rise
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The Federal Government has released a consultation paper on new requirements for supermarkets to improve transparency about prices, promotions and loyalty programs. The proposals directly respond to recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Supermarkets Inquiry, which found that current pricing and promotional practices often make it too difficult for consumers to assess value…
Read More Consultation Opens for Supermarket Price and Loyalty Program Transparency
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Australia’s peak communications consumer body, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network – ACCAN, is calling on the major parties to commit to a concessional internet product delivered by NBN Co to provide a cost-of-living boost to low-income Australians this Federal election. This follows a new ACCAN report undertaken by Essential Research which shows significant popular…
Read More “No Australian Left Offline”, report finds strong support for concessional internet
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Independents, Greens and other crossbench candidates are pushing the next government to substantially increase income support to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and lift people out of poverty. With a minority government possible after this election, crossbenchers have signed a joint statement with ACOSS and representatives from the community sector declaring that raising the rate is…
Read More Crossbenchers and community advocates push for increase to income support
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Consumer Action Law Centre has revealed a list of its top consumer-centric priorities to make life fairer and better for all Australians, ahead of the upcoming federal Election. “This Federal Election is all about the cost-of-living, and no matter who steps into government it’s vital that they prioritise relieving the harsh financial burdens now being felt by…
Read More Cost of Living Crisis the top priority for 2025 Election
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Financial counsellors have launched their federal election campaign – When every dollar counts, so does financial counselling – we can’t afford to wait. Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), along with all the state financial counselling associations, is calling for a commitment from all sides of politics to provide increased and more sustainable funding, particularly for face-to-face financial…
Read More Every dollar counts – financial counsellors launch election campaign
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ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb has stressed the positive impacts of a competitive economy for consumers as she outlined the agency’s priorities for the 2025-26 financial year. Speaking at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia event in Sydney today, Ms Cass-Gottlieb outlined the agency’s annual compliance and enforcement priorities which include working decisively on consumer…
Read More ACCC releases 2025-26 enforcement and compliance priorities
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Rental assistance needs to be urgently increased to ensure that Australia’s retirees are not living in poverty, COTA Australia says. The call follows a Grattan Institute report released today which shows that two in three retirees who rent in the private market live below the poverty line. COTA Australia – the leading advocacy organisation for…
Read More Urgent increase in rent assistance necessary to lift retirees out of poverty
Consumers' Federation of Australia
Developing and promoting the consumer interest
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,…
Read More Consumers’ Federation of Australia on life-support, urges government action to protect consumers during cost-of-living crisis
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There’s been a significant increase in the number of people reaching out to the National Debt Helpline (NDH) over the past year. During 2024 more than 169,000 people called in or used the online chat tool to seek help from financial counsellors – a 12% increase on 2023. Total visits to the NDH website also…
Read More Number of People Reaching Out to the NDH Increases
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ICAN is united with CHOICE, Community Credit Legal Service Western Australia (CCLSWA), Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), Financial Rights Legal Centre (FRLC), and Mob Strong Debt Help, in supporting the proposed National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities. We believe this Strategy is a significant step forward in addressing the critical issue of…
Read More Strengthening Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities