Independent inquiries Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

12 February , 2024

Consumer Price Transparency and Product Information to be Improved in UK

Following public consultation on ways to improve price transparency and information about products for consumers, the UK government has announced that it will make several changes.

8 February , 2024

Supermarkets, airlines and power companies are charging ‘exploitative’ prices despite reaping record profits

A lack of transparent pricing information caused a poor understanding by consumers of how prices were set. This was significantly worsened by a lack of competition. While market concentration was a major issue, the inquiry found prices in Australia are way higher than in many other less competitive markets.

Large price increases occurred across many sectors.

15 August , 2023

Inquiry into Price Gouging and Unfair Pricing Practices Launched by the ACTU

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has recently announced an inquiry into price gouging and unfair pricing practices to be chaired by Professor Allan Fells AO.

The announcement comes just after the OECD released a research report which found that “historically high corporate profits”, rather than wages, was the leading cause for inflation in Australia. With the OECD suggesting corporate profits may account for an average of 51% of inflation in recent years.

29 June , 2023

Free Strata Insurance Handbook Released

John Trowbridge, a consultant and insurance industry expert who has been conducting an independent review into strata insurance, has released a handbook for navigating strata insurance, available for free here. The Disclosure Handbook is designed as a reference guide for owners, strata committees, strata managers and brokers. It has been prepared on completion of an…

Image 19 April , 2023

Parents and Guardians Asked for Their Experience with Childcare

Media release first posted 18/04/2023. The ACCC is asking parents and guardians for their views on childcare services in Australia, as part of its year-long inquiry into the sector. Parents and guardians are invited to complete a short online survey to share their experiences when looking for and using childcare services in Australia. The ACCC is seeking…

21 December , 2016

CFA asked to prepare submission for Senate on electrical infrastructure resilience

In October this year, the Australian Senate created the Select Committee into the Resilience of Electricity Infrastructure in a Warming World. The purpose of the committee is to examine the current role of various storage technologies and localised distributed generation to provide Australia’s electricity networks, and assessing their resilience in withstanding the growing intensity and frequency…

22 September , 2016

Financial Rights Legal Centre and Consumers Federation Australia publish submission to review Code of Banking Practice

Consumers Federation Australia (CFA) along with several consumer organisations have recently submitted a joint consumer representative submission to the Australian Banking Association. The ABA has resourced this 2016 submission, conducted as a collaborative effort between the CFA and the Financial Rights Legal Centre (FRLC). CFA and the FRLC engaged with the following consumer organisations who have…

1 September , 2016

CFA publishes submission to the Productivity Commission

Earlier in 2016, the Productivity Commission announced its study on consumer law enforcement and administration. The study seeks to focus on the efficacy of the single law, multiple regulator model which provides the foundation for Australian Consumer Law. The Productivity Commission was seeking commentary and submissions on the existing model to publish within their Issues…

26 August , 2016

Standards Australia and Department of Finance combine to provide greater access to technology for Australians living with a disability.

Standards Australia in conjunction with the Department of Finance, Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and other stakeholders, are pleased to announce Australia will be adopting an internationally aligned standard for ICT accessibility in procurement. Standards Australia CEO, Dr Bronwyn Evans, said that the new Australian Standard is to be used as guidance…

25 July , 2016

Productivity Commission launches ACL review: issues paper released

The Productivity Commission has recently launched a study into the enforcement and administration arrangements underpinning the Australian Consumer Law. The study will focus on the effectiveness of the ‘single-law, multiple regulator’ model – a model where the national consumer law is jointly enforced and administered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and…

16 June , 2016

The changing telecommunications market: have your say

The Productivity Commission has published a press release, calling on people to provide valuable input into the Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation. The Commission seeks to change and meet the evolving demands for the future direction of telecommunications within the Australian market. Commissioner Paul Lindwall states that ‘currently we have in place a Universal Service…