shopping, cart, grocery-35594.jpg
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…
Read More Inquiry into Food Security in Victoria
Post thumbnail
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…
Read More Consumer Representative Opportunity – Therapeutic Goods Administration
money, the grace of, scales-2033591.jpg
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…
Read More The Price Is Not Right: ICAN’s Queensland Supermarket Submission
dental care, dentistry, oral hygiene-5557438.jpg
Almost four in ten Australians (37%) aged 55+ have delayed or completely put off going to the dentist in the past year due to cost, research released today by COTA Australia – the leading advocacy organisation for older Australians has found.
Read More Cost to Teeth – Advocates Urge Action on Dental Cover
Post thumbnail
The Federal Department of Health and Aged Care has engaged a project team led by the University of Wollongong to deliver a feasibility study on options to limit unhealthy food marketing to children. Recommendations will be provided to Government for consideration by mid-2024.
Information about the project and the consultation paper are available here and the closing date for comments is 15 March.
Read More Federal Government Opens Consultation on Feasibility Study for Limiting Unhealthy Food Marketing to Children
Post thumbnail
“Over the past three years, average health insurance premiums across all levels went up by 8.6%, according to government data. However, our analysis found that the cost of top-level Gold hospital policies has increased by over 30% on average,” says CHOICE health insurance expert, Jodi Bird.
Read More Health Insurers are Increasing their Top-Level Policy Prices by over 30%
house, home, insurance-7716235.jpg
Consumer advocates call on insurers to act now at flood insurance inquiry
Urgent changes needed to improve claims handling process
A number of consumer advocacy groups – including CHOICE, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Consumer Action Law Centre, and Financial Counselling Australia – will be the first to appear today and tomorrow at a public hearing for the parliamentary inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.
Read More Consumer Advocates Call on Insurers to Act Now at Flood Insurance Inquiry
Post thumbnail
In February 2023, health ministers announced they would take action to ensure the management of professional misconduct by health practitioners relating to sexual misconduct and sexual boundary violations would better meet community expectations.
Health ministers are seeking feedback to determine if amendments to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law are needed to provide greater transparency to the public about health practitioners’ regulatory history when they have engaged in sexual misconduct or sexual boundary violations.
Read More Proposed Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Reforms
vaping, no, addiction-892290.jpg
Two weeks ago changes to vaping laws were made via reforms to customs and therapeutic goods regulations. The reforms focus primarily on the sale and importation of disposable vapes and on the prescription of vapes for therapeutic purposes by qualified medical practitioners. The reforms go into effect on January 1st 2024, and by March 1st…
Read More Vaping Reform and Webinar
dna, genetics, science-1020670.jpg
Currently, the Disability Discrimination Act provides an exemption for life insurers to use genomic or genetic test results when underwriting life insurance contracts. Since 2019, an industry-regulated partial-moratorium has been in place that prohibits the use of these tests below certain financial limits.
The government encourages all interested parties to make a submission in response to the consultation paper, which can be found on the Treasury website.
service, customer, center-4482162.jpg
“We know that suicide is complex and often linked to many risk factors like personal debt, unemployment, family breakdown, social isolation, and mental health.
“Feeding the family and keeping a roof over our heads are two of the most basic human needs. While interest rates are a matter for the RBA Board, we must be prepared and proactive to prevent distress and suicide rates from continuing to rise,” said Ms Murray.
depression, voices, self-criticism-1250870.jpg
Federal and State Governments must introduce significant gambling harm reforms in the wake of new research that indicates a significant percentage of suicides across Australia are related to gambling.
Read More Gambling-Related Suicides on Rise
