Articles

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A thematic review of how superannuation trustees are supporting their members under the Retirement Income Covenant has found that trustees need to make more progress to enhance retirement outcomes. The review was conducted jointly by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Read More APRA, ASIC: Super trustees need to improve retirement outcomes planning’

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The Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) is working with the Australian Banking Association (ABA) to coordinate with 12 of its members to ensure banking services offered through Bank@Post comply with the Banking Code of Practice.

Bank@Post arrangements provide a valuable face-to-face service, particularly as banks close branches, especially in regional and remote areas.

The BCCC wants to ensure, as a priority, that important consumer protections have been implemented for the services banks offer through Bank@Post.

Read More Banking Code Compliance Committee Prioritises Bank@Post’s Compliance with the Code

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The ACCC today published draft guidance to improve the integrity of environmental and sustainability claims made by businesses and protect consumers from ‘greenwashing’.

The draft guidance aims to address the concerning conduct identified by the ACCC’s recent greenwashing internet sweep, which found 57 per cent of businesses reviewed were making potentially misleading environmental claims.

Read More ACCC Publishes Draft Guidance to Improve Integrity Business’ Environmental Claims

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As part of the ASEAN-Australia Digital Trade Standards (DTS) Initiative, Standards Australia has launched the 2023 Fellowship Program. The program is designed to connect emerging professionals with leading experts in standardisation and digital trade across Australia and ASEAN.
Participation in the 2023 ASEAN-DTS Fellowship Program provides a valuable opportunity for both established and emerging professionals to meet, network, and collaborate with others in the field.  

Read More Call for Digital Trade Standards Mentors

Childcare Infographic

Original media release from the ACCC, published 5/07/2023. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has examined the price and availability of childcare services, how households select childcare services and the impact of Government contributions in its interim report, published today. It draws on information collected from a range of childcare providers around Australia as well…

Read More Pricing Practices and Operating Costs of Childcare Services to be examined, as Latest ACCC Report Confirms Fees Outpace Inflation

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The Better Banking for Indigenous Consumers Project reviewed target market determinations (TMDs) for both high-fee and low-fee ‘basic’ accounts offered by some of Australia’s major and regional banks. ASIC issued notices to those banks requiring data on fees charged to consumers in locations with higher-than-average proportions of Indigenous people and for customers in receipt of AbStudy payments.

The review found that many Indigenous consumers identified in the data were in high fee accounts paying high fees, despite being eligible for a low-fee ‘basic’ account.

Read More ASIC Acts to Ensure Better Banking Outcomes for Indigenous Consumers