Articles Archives - Page 47 of 180 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

22 August , 2022

Consumer empowerment must be central to Electric Vehicle Smart Charging

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has made a submission to the Energy Security Board in response to its Issues Paper. CFA supports two representatives who participate in the Standards Committee, EM-001 Electric Vehicle Operation. The submission has been developed with the support of these expert consumer representatives and focuses on the questions in the Issues Paper related to…

22 August , 2022

Red alert for dangerous infant mattresses

The following is a piece by Dr Ron Somers (PhD) former external senior lecturer in public health at the University of Adelaide, former director of epidemiology at SA Health, and a long-time GP practice manager. Ron is also the CFA Standards Representative on two Standards Australia Technical Committees. Australian consumers need to exercise caution over the coming…

12 August , 2022

ASIC’s surveillance of internal dispute resolution in superannuation identifies concerns

Superannuation trustees are being urged to review their internal dispute resolution (IDR) arrangements after the first stage of an ASIC surveillance found indicators of significant compliance issues. This is a media release from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). It was originally published on 10th August, 2022. ASIC’s surveillance examines trustees’ compliance with the new enforceable requirements…

12 August , 2022

ASIC releases research about investment behaviour

ASIC has released Report 735 Retail investor research (REP 735) capturing retail investor motivations, attitudes and behaviours in the period following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a media release from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). It was originally published on 11th August, 2022. The research surveyed 1,053 Australian retail investors aged 18 and over who…

8 August , 2022

Caravan industry on notice for poor treatment of consumers

Australian consumers have reported widespread consumer guarantee failures, misrepresentations by caravan suppliers, and unexpected delays in the delivery and repair of caravans, according to the ACCC’s New caravan retailing report released today. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 21st July, 2022. The report highlights key issues of concern…

8 August , 2022

Food and Agruculture Organization interview CFA Executive Ian Jarratt

Ian Jarratt, CFA Executive member and Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) member, was recently interviewed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations about the importance of food transparency, unit pricing, and the role that consumer associations need to play in the transformation of agri-food systems. In this interview, he talks about his experiences from…

8 August , 2022

Pram and stroller safety essentials

The recommended pram and stroller safety essentials are the AS/NZS 2088 label on the item, a sturdy frame, a five-point harness and a tether strap, according to the Australian Parenting website. Standards Australia recently published the revised AS 2088:2022 Prams and strollers – Safety requirements which provides manufacturers, authorities, and others with minimum safety requirements for prams and…

8 August , 2022

Webinar: Flood Insurance and Relief – the UK experience

This webinar is designed for CFA members, consumer advocates and others to learn from the experience in the UK with flood insurance and relief. Come along and hear from guest speakers: Andy Bord, CEO of FloodRe – a re-insurance Scheme that makes flood cover more widely available and affordable as part of home insurance. Paul Cobbing, former…

8 August , 2022

Consumer Check-in: Expectations in 2022

ACCAN recently commissioned research asking the Australian public about their top concerns when it comes to their communications services. This is a media release from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). It was originally published on 27th July, 2022. We surveyed nearly 1000 (n=998) Australians on a range of topics. We asked people about the affordability and…

8 August , 2022

How ‘bad credit’ lender Cigno has dodged ASIC’s grasp

Cigno is exactly the sort of business the Australian Securities and Investments Commission had in mind when it asked for stronger powers to ban the sale of harmful financial products. This is a news item from The Conversation. It was originally published on 5th August, 2022. If you are experiencing financial hardship contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800…

8 August , 2022

Family violence, child safety, funeral insurance in awards spotlight

A tenancy advocate and financial counsellor, a domestic violence support group, a child safety program and media stories about funeral insurance were the winners of the 2022 Consumer Protection Awards. This is a media release from The Government of Western Australia: Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. It was originally published on 2nd August, 2022. The winners…

20 July , 2022

Why do I need goggles when skiing or snowboarding?

A good pair of goggles while skiing or snowboarding affects your performance as well as your safety. The goggles you choose should not only look good but should have safety features. Standards Australia recently released AS/NZS 18527.1:2022 Eye and face protection for sports use Part 1: Requirements for downhill skiing and snowboarding goggles which adopts ISO 18527 1:2021 with…