Health Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

3 March , 2025

Mould in buildings – New standard open for Public Comment

Recently Australia has experienced record-breaking rainfall and floods, generating the perfect storm for the spread of mould in water-damaged properties. Condensation in your home can cause damp, mould, and rot. This can cause rotting of building materials and, if mould spores become airborne indoors, harmful effects on human health. A new Draft Australian Standard AS-IICRC…

14 November , 2024

ACCC Warns NDIS Providers Against Misleading Advertising

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…

11 November , 2024

CFA Supports Call for Action to Protect Children from Unhealthy Food Marketing

In an open letter to Health Ministers, CFA and many other organisations have called for action to protect children from the marketing of unhealthy food by: A copy of the letter is available here

8 November , 2024

Optus Fined Over 2023 Outage Impacting Triple Zero

ACCAN has today welcomed the decisive action by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in holding Optus to account and issuing a $12 million fine for risking the welfare of hundreds of consumers during the widespread outage of November 2023. This latest fine signals the need for the company and its new CEO, Steven…

2 October , 2024

ACCC seeks Consultation on Potential Competition Concerns with Sigma/Chemist Warehouse Acquisition

The ACCC is seeking views on a proposed court-enforceable undertaking offered by Sigma Healthcare Limited (ASX: SIG) in relation to its proposed acquisition of Chemist Warehouse Group Holdings. Sigma is one of the largest wholesalers of prescription medicines, over the counter and front of store products. Sigma is also a franchisor of pharmacies under banners…

9 September , 2024

New Rules for Triple Zero Services a Win for Public Safety

Changes to Triple Zero rules announced by Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland today are an important step to enhance public safety. ACCAN – Australia’s peak body for communications consumers – welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister that several new requirements will apply to mobile carriers in relation to the Triple Zero service. The range of…

6 September , 2024

Medical Authorities Urged to Address ‘ticking time bomb’ of 3G Shutdown on Medical Devices

Medical authorities must take urgent action to ensure that up to 200,000 medical implant recipients are aware of the health threat posed by the looming 3G network shutdown. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett said the recent delay to the shutdown of the 3G network was to be applauded, but there was growing concern that people were…

6 September , 2024

“Stop dithering on older people’s rights” – Self-Advocates Urge MPs to Act Now on Aged Care Reform

Older people are urging a bipartisan approach from the Federal Government and Opposition to urgently introduce a new rights-based Aged Care Act. Organisations representing older Australians and their carers say the Aged Care Act needs to be introduced into Federal Parliament this sitting fortnight if laws are to be passed this year that address the…

26 July , 2024

TGA Consultation for Future Regulation of Assistive Technologies

The TGA is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the regulation of assistive technologies. The TGA is Australia’s government authority responsible for evaluating, assessing, and monitoring products that are defined as therapeutic goods including medicines, medical devices and biologicals to help Australians stay healthy and safe. The current provisions in the Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods) Determination…

4 June , 2024

Inquiry into Food Security in Victoria

On 29 November 2023, the Legislative Council agreed to the following motion: That this House requires the Legal and Social Issues Committee to inquire into, consider and report, by 14 November 2024, on the impacts and drivers of, and solutions for, food security in Victoria, including but not limited to —(1) the impact of food…

23 May , 2024

Consumer Representative Opportunity – Therapeutic Goods Administration

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking applications from professionals with relevant expertise in medicine and science, and consumers with relevant expertise in consumer perspectives and issues. Successful applicants will contribute significantly towards the TGA’s regulatory functions by providing independent expert advice on matters across a broad spectrum of issues relating to medicines, medical…

19 April , 2024

The Price Is Not Right: ICAN’s Queensland Supermarket Submission

As a provider of education, advocacy, and financial counselling services to people across North and Far North Queensland, ICAN recently provided a submission to the Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing in Queensland. Our submission focused on the significant price differences people experience when shopping depending on whether they are based in metropolitan Queensland or remote and…