Policy Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

27 November , 2023

Consumer Affairs Ministers Agree on 2024 Priorities

“It is important that we remain focused on progressing reforms to the Australian Consumer Law to strengthen protections for consumers and small business and improve consumer confidence.”

“The agreed priorities for 2024 build on the important enhancements to consumer protections that have been delivered in 2023, such as strengthening Unfair Contract Term Protections, increasing penalties for breaches of the competition and consumer laws, and establishing the National Anti-Scam Centre.”

1 September , 2023

Consumer Groups Advocate for Change as Consultations Open on Unfair Trading Practices

Almost a year after state and territory consumer ministers agreed to open consultation on options to address the gap in Australian Consumer Law (ACL) around unfair trading practices, Treasury has released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) and given stakeholders 91 days to respond starting 31st August and ending 29th November 2023.

22 May , 2023

Regulation of Buy Now, Pay Later Announced – Consumer Groups Respond

One year after 120 consumer groups signed an open letter to have BNPL regulated as conventional credit, the Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones MP has announced that BNPL will largely be brought in line with the Credit Act – though not all requirements will be applied.

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…

5 July , 2022

Australian consumers in their own words: new research from the CPRC

What does it mean to be a consumer in Australia? New research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre outlines how people across Australia describe their experiences and expectations of how business treat them. This is a media release from The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC). It was originally published on 29th June, 2022. For more information about this research,…

6 September , 2021

Strengthening unfair contract term protections for consumers and small businesses

The Government has today released a draft Bill to strengthen unfair contract term (UCT) protections for consumers and small businesses. This is a media release from The Hon Michael Sukkar MP, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Social and Community Housing. It was originally published on 23rd August, 2021. The exposure draft Bill proposes…

26 March , 2021

Morrison Government levels the playing field for independent repairers

The Morrison Government has today introduced legislation into the Parliament to establish a mandatory scheme for the sharing of motor vehicle service and repair information. This ground breaking legislation will level the playing field for the automotive repair sector, increasing competition and consumer choice. This is a media release from The Hon Michael Sukkar MP,…

12 July , 2018

Consumer advocates welcome ACCC Final Report on electricity market

Consumer advocates have welcomed the findings of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry Final Report, released yesterday. Energy Consumers Australia Acting CEO Lynne Gallagher said the final report confirms what consumers have been saying: that the electricity market is not working as it should and not delivering good value for…

18 August , 2016

CFA releases updated Consumer Representatives Policy

Consumers Federation Australia is constantly listening to consumer wants, interests and needs. As such, CFA believes that changes are needed to ensure that we are meeting the ever changing consumer landscape. Recently, CFA made changes to the current policy on consumer representation. The changes are reflected within the document, available here. The new policy statement,…

7 July , 2016

Defining Consumer Protection in the Digital Age

Robin Simpson, Consumers International’s (CI) Senior Policy Adviser, recently represented CI at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on The digital economy innovation, growth and social prosperity which took place in Cancun, Mexico. He spoke at the Civil Society Forum convened by the OECD Civil Society information Society Advisory Council (CSISAC) and in the main agenda panel…

12 November , 2013

CFA Melbourne Workshop – How to make friends and influence people in a new political landscape

Members and non-members are invited to join us for this exciting event