Articles

Three people talking at a desk Three people talking at a desk

Women are widely under-represented in developing the standards that affect so many areas of our lives, from the products we consume every day to the technologies needed to address a wide range of sustainability challenges. Many of these standards do not adequately address how women and men may be affected differently, for example ill-fitting personal protective…

Read More Women in standards development – International Women’s Day 2021 March 8 “Choose to challenge”

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In his annual address to Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA), ACCC Chair Rod Sims announced the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities for 2021. This annual review of ACCC priorities for the next 12 months has become a vital component of the ACCC’s strategic approach to compliance and enforcement work and its delivery, as well…

Read More ACCC 2021 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities Announced

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Australia’s Energy Star Rating scheme provides consumers with useful information about the relative energy efficiency of a product. The more stars a product gets, the more energy efficient it is compared to other models of the same size or capacity. The energy star rating of an appliance is determined by its energy consumption, using the relevant Australian Standard for measuring energy consumption…

Read More Public comment invited on updates of the energy efficiency labelling requirements for dishwashers and dryers

An electric car being charged An electric car being charged

Electric vehicles (that use minimal to no fuel) are becoming more popular and Australian consumers need to feel confident electric transportation will meet the challenges facing the Australian landscape, such as the size of our county or capability of our electricity grid.  According to the Australian Electric Vehicle Market Study Report Electric Vehicles (EVs) are expected to…

Read More Why an electric vehicle?

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A report on the sale of add-on general insurance products by the independent committee monitoring the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice (the Code) outlines the extent to which  and how Code subscribing insurance brokers provide add-on insurance products to their clients. This is an Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee media release The Insurance Brokers Code…

Read More Most brokers handling insurance add-ons well, but there is room for improvement: Report

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Not all cyber security risks can be addressed by governments and industry — individuals should also take steps to protect themselves. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how much Australians interact and work online, trusting the internet for healthcare, working from home, education, entertainment and online shopping. Protecting you and your family online is about more than avoiding…

Read More Cyber security — your responsibility

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The COVID-19 epidemic has raised concerns around supply chains and the need for more innovation. So how can organisations be innovative enough in order to deal with an increasingly uncertain world? Standards Australia has recently published three AS ISO standards on  Innovation management — about guidance, vocabulary, and tools and methods for innovative partnerships. A Consumers Federation…

Read More Innovate or perish —Standards Australia publishes standards on innovation management

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Under certain circumstances, open flued gas space heaters pose a risk of releasing unhealthy and sometimes lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide into buildings. Malfunctioning, poorly or infrequently serviced open flued gas space heaters in residential settings have resulted in the deaths of three Victorians since 2010. Your views are being sought on the Regulatory Impact…

Read More Phase out of open flued gas space heaters — have your say

Cans of food stacked on a shelf in a grocery store Cans of food stacked on a shelf in a grocery store

CFA’s recent submission on a consultation paper prepared by consultants on the Consistency of Food Regulatory Approaches in Australia and New Zealand identified labelling, food medicine, and health claims as the main areas of inconsistency. The submission included the following points: Labelling: The present requirements provide great scope for between jurisdiction inconsistencies in the assessment…

Read More CFA Submission on Consistency of Food Regulation

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Financial Rights Legal Centre has released a landmark report on the concept of Open Insurance – the application of the Consumer Data Right to the general insurance industry. This is a Financial Rights Legal Centre Media Release Financial Rights’ Chief Executive Officer Karen Cox said the Open Insurance report by Dr Richard Tooth of Sapere…

Read More Financial Rights report reveals risks and opportunities in Open Insurance

An apple on a pile of school books An apple on a pile of school books

Corporate regulator slams banks’ school marketing schemes as CHOICE calls on State and Territory Education Ministers to ditch Dollarmites. This is a CHOICE Media Release “CHOICE welcomes ASIC’s comprehensive review into school banking programs. This is the first time ever in over a century that these school-based marketing schemes have been reviewed,” says CHOICE CEO…

Read More “Nothing more than marketing schemes”: CHOICE on ASIC’s review of school marketing programs