Media release from CHOICE 18/04/2023. New national research from CHOICE has revealed over 40% of renters have been pressured to use RentTech to apply for a home – putting them at risk of data breaches, extra costs and exclusion from housing. Some tenants are also being forced to use these third-party rental platforms, such as…
Read More Your data, open for inspection: CHOICE raises alarm on RentTech
The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has made a further submission to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) about the proposed merger of ANZ Banks and Suncorp Bank. The submission, following the publication of ACCC’s preliminary views, agrees with the ACCC that there are regulatory and structural barriers for smaller providers and newer entrants in…
Read More CFA Response to Proposed Suncorp-ANZ merger
Below is a media release (12/04/2023) from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding current Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb’s speech to the National Press Club on the need to reform merger laws in Australia. A full transcript of the speech is available from the ACCC’s website here. Australia’s merger laws are no longer fit for…
Read More ACCC: Reform of merger laws critical for Australia’s economic transition
The trend towards digital and cashless banking is already negatively impacting many vulnerable Australians as COTA (Council on the Ageing) highlighted in their recent media release, as seen below: The closure of cash services at bank branches risks cutting off access to vital and basic banking services for many older Australians, particularly our most vulnerable,…
Read More COTA: Don’t lock vulnerable Australians out of banking
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), along with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), has found that while direct debit may work for some consumers direct debits automatic system and lack of flexibility created unfair additional costs and financial distress for vulnerable consumers. In a media release (05/04/2023) ACCAN said: A thriving and competitive…
Read More Direct Debit for Telcos and Utilities a Problem for Vulnerable Consumers
Today, over 50% of organizations worldwide report using some form of AI in their operations, but many people still lack foundational knowledge concerning what AI is, or its potential risks, benefits, and impacts. CSIRO’s Everyday AI shows this technology is not science fiction but very much a reality shaping our everyday lives. Destination AI, a…
Read More Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Learn what makes AI tick
Media release from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), originally released here on 4/04/2023 The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is launching a public consultation on its “points of presence” data – the data APRA collects and publishes on physical banking service channels in Australia. APRA publishes a detailed listing of the number of bank branches,…
Read More APRA Launches Public Consultation on Banks’ ‘Points of Presence’ Data
From Consumer Action Law Centre, Released 03/04/2023. Original here. Consumer advocates around Australia have welcomed moves by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC MP to reform bankruptcy laws. Last month, consumer advocates attended a Ministerial Roundtable on Personal Insolvency to discuss pressure points in the current system, critical reform areas and longer-term strategic challenges with the Attorney-General and…
Read More Now is the time to make positive reforms to bankruptcy laws say consumer advocates
From Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee 04/04/2023 Media Release. The Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee (IBCCC) has urged insurance brokers to recognise the importance of reporting breaches following a concerning finding in its latest Annual Data Report. The IBCCC’s report, which looks at the performance of insurance brokers subscribed to the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice, found…
Read More IBCCC Publishes its 2021 Annual Data Report: Insurance brokers need to embrace a culture of reporting
From the Consumer Policy Research Centre, originally released here on 29/03/2023. The latest research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC), has found that most Australians don’t feel businesses are doing enough to keep their data safe. While 84 per cent agree a company should be responsible for keeping their data safe, only 15 per…
Read More 6 Out of 7 Australians Don’t Feel Their Data is Safe with Businesses
Following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Digital Platform Services inquiry in 2019, and the Treasury’s recent follow-up consultation the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) placed a submission late February 2023 to expand their remit from telecommunications to digital platform services (e.g. search engines, apps). The TIO has supported the proposal for a Digital Platforms…
Read More TIO Submission for Digital Platforms Ombudsman
March 28th was a day of action for First Nations advocates a year after the federal government established an interim scheme so that some of the families harmed by Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund/Youpla could conduct the important cultural practice of Sorry Business. The Save Sorry Business coalition used this day of action to call for…
Read More Save Sorry Business Day of Action
