Closing the Super Gender Balance Pay Gap
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Paying super on government paid parental leave is a welcome first step towards closing the super gender balance gap.
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Articles
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Memorandum of Understanding Between Philippines and Australian Competition Watch-Dogs
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Original media release by and from the ACCC (29/02/2024). A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by the ACCC and its Filipino counterpart, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), will continue to strengthen cooperation between the two competition regulators. Interagency collaboration fostered by the MOU, will enhance the effective administration of competition law and policy in…
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‘From Surviving to Thriving’ ICAN’s Report on Holistic Financial Counselling
From Surviving to Thriving: Embedding a well-being framework into financial counselling practice
Skills and Knowledge
Connections
- Survivng
- Stabilising
- Building
- Thriving
Identity
Health
Basic Needs
Money
In 2020, the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) set out to widen the scope of its financial counselling services by looking at how it could deliver a holistic financial counselling framework that could better meet the financial and well-being needs of its service users. Over the past three years, ICAN has been developing a practice framework for its financial counselling services that embeds elements of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. Today ICAN has released the report: From surviving to thriving: Embedding a well-being framework into financial counselling practice that shares the learnings from this significant organisational undertaking.
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ASIC Steps Up Surveillance and Website Takedowns to Shut Down Scams
Fraud Alert
New data has revealed nearly 3,500 investment scam websites have been knocked out by ASIC’s scam website takedown capability since it was launched in July 2023, as ASIC sharpens its efforts to protect Australians from digitally enabled misconduct.
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Seeking CFA member to prepare joint consumer submissions to the Independent Review of the 2020 General Insurance Code of Practice
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The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has appointed a Review Panel to conduct an independent review of the 2020 General Insurance Code of Practice. As part of this, the ICA is providing resourcing to the Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) for the preparation of joint consumer submissions and engagement with the review.
Please send expressions of interest to info@consumersfederation.org.au by c.o.b. Thursday 7 March 2024. If this date is difficult, please contact CFA Chair
Full Court Finding Supports First Nations’ and ASIC Allegations of ACBF/Youpla Misrepresentation
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The Full Court has upheld ASIC’s appeal in its case against ACBF Funeral Plans Pty Ltd (ACBF) and Youpla Group Pty Ltd (Youpla), finding that funeral expenses insurance provider ACBF misrepresented to Aboriginal consumers that it was Aboriginal owned or managed when that was not the case.
[T]he Court found that, on the evidence, it is ‘abundantly clear … that the Aboriginal Ownership/Management Representation is false.’
ACCC Supermarkets Inquiry Opens Survey and Consultation
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“We will be using our legal powers to compulsorily obtain data and documents from the supermarkets themselves, but consultation with consumers and grocery sector participants is an important first step in our inquiry.”
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Chair Announced for the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort
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Original media release from CSLR (27/02/2024). The Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) acknowledges the announcement yesterday from the Australian Government, appointing our independent Chair and the official scheme commencement date. CSLR welcomes Jo-Anne Bloch as our inaugural Chair, marking the completion of the CSLR Board. Ms Bloch was independently appointed by the Minister, in accordance with…
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No Say, No Knowledge, No Control: Personal Data in Australia
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When was the last time you were certain that your data wasn’t being collected, shared, tracked or used in unfair business practices? A recently released joint research report from the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) ‘Singled Out: Consumer understanding – and misunderstanding – of data broking, data…
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Caravanning and Camping
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Australians love caravanning and camping. We see it as a great way to experience Australia’s open spaces and natural beauty. Caravanning and camping has recovered well since the COVID-related lockdowns ended and trips were at 12.7 million by the year ending June 2022, according to Tourism Research Australia caravan and camping data. Standards Australia has…
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Federal Government Opens Consultation on Feasibility Study for Limiting Unhealthy Food Marketing to Children
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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.
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ASIC Calls on Industry to Address Issues and Improve Oversight on Choice Super Performance
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ASIC’s review found that often there was insufficient emphasis on and a lack of transparency about Choice investment options that failed to meet performance expectations. There was little evidence of trustees communicating to members about investment option performance in a targeted manner, and financial advisers were not always addressing underperformance where relevant.
‘Members should be informed about their super investments – not left in the dark if their super investments are not performing as expected, and there may be better alternatives,’ Ms Constant said.
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