Articles

Post thumbnail

Involved in any building works? The National Construction Code (NCC) sets out the minimum requirements and provides uniform technical standards for design and construction of new building work (including in existing buildings), plumbing and drainage across all Australian States and Territories. A FREE copy of the NCC is available here. NCC Volume 2 contains the requirements for residential and non-habitable…

Read More Involved in building works – What does the National Construction Code mean?

Post thumbnail

The Morrison Government has today introduced legislation into the Parliament to establish a mandatory scheme for the sharing of motor vehicle service and repair information. This ground breaking legislation will level the playing field for the automotive repair sector, increasing competition and consumer choice. This is a media release from The Hon Michael Sukkar MP,…

Read More Morrison Government levels the playing field for independent repairers

Bronze Justice statue

The Full Federal Court has upheld an appeal by the ACCC and declared that Quantum Housing Group Pty Ltd engaged in an unconscionable system of conduct in its dealings with investors regarding the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 22nd March,…

Read More Full Federal Court ruling provides vital clarification of the law on statutory unconscionable conduct

holding hands in support holding hands in support

The general insurance industry committed itself to new requirements relating to family violence policies from 1 July 2020. From that date all subscribers who provide retail insurance products are required to: “… have a publicly available policy about how we [the subscriber] will support you [the consumer] if you are affected by family violence. This…

Read More Assessment of general insurer’s compliance with new code provision on family violence

quad bike on dirt quad bike on dirt

The ACCC will this year focus on implementation of important safety standards relating to quad bikes including preparing consumers and businesses for a mandatory requirement for operator protection devices as it is introduced in October, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said today. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 22nd March, 2021. Mr Sims, speaking at…

Read More Quad bikes and button batteries among ACCC’s 2021 product safety priorities

blurred photograph of medicine blurred photograph of medicine

The Life Code Compliance Committee (the Life CCC) – the independent body that administers and enforces the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Code) – released its report on the Own Motion Inquiry (OMI) into how subscribers are meeting Code requirements on the review of medical definitions. Section 3.2 relates to the obligation that medical…

Read More Life insurance code inquiry into review of medical definitions

hadns on laptop hadns on laptop

The General Insurance Code Governance Committee (the Committee) has today released its annual report for the 2019-20 financial year. The report includes analysis of trends and service standards in the general insurance industry in a year that included significant summer bushfires, flooding and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a General Insurance Code…

Read More General Insurance in Australia Report 2019-20

doctor holding phone doctor holding phone

A Draft National Preventative Health Strategy (the Strategy) was released recently for comment via a website survey which closes on 19 April. The survey and the Strategy are available here. The Strategy aims to help Australians improve their health at all stages of life, through early intervention, better information, targeting risk factors and addressing the…

Read More Consultation on Draft National Preventative Health Strategy

Wooden house, piggy bank, magnifying glass Wooden house, piggy bank, magnifying glass

Data reveals postcodes flooded with complaints about loans as Government plans to remove lending protections An analysis by consumer group CHOICE has revealed over 31,000 complaints have been made about credit products since the end of the Banking Royal Commission’s hearings. The analysis comes as crossbench Senators in Federal Parliament decide on a government proposal…

Read More 31,000 credit complaints since Banking Royal Commission

Person using laptop Person using laptop

The ACCC is seeking submissions from consumers and industry participants about choice screens, which give users a choice of internet search services on mobiles and tablets, rather than a pre-selected search service, and about the supply of web browsers in Australia. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 11th March, 2021. The submissions to…

Read More Feedback sought on choice and competition in internet search and web browsers

Post thumbnail

Most plastics are made to be used once before being discarded and consumer awareness of the plastics crisis is growing around the world. On average, Australians use 130 kg of plastic per person each year and up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic will find its way into our waterways and into the ocean. The good news is…

Read More World Consumer Rights Day (15 March 2021) ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’