child playing with toys
As online shopping becomes the new norm consumers should be aware of the product safety risks in the online marketplace. According to the OECD Global Awareness Campaign toys and games are one of the most recalled products and may pose serious safety risks to consumers, accounting for over 20% of recall notices published. The ACCC is co-leading the OECD Global…
Read More Shop safely online for toys and games
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
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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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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’
Meeting and laptop on table
In 2020 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) engaged Deloitte Access Economics to undertake an independent study on competition in managed funds. This study examines the structure, conduct and performance of the managed funds industry. It seeks to understand the effectiveness of competition within the industry and to identify indicators of market power or…
Read More Competition in managed funds Interim Report seeks comment and submissions by industry
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The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has been amended to introduce new requirements for the labelling of allergens in food. The changes will make allergen information on food labels clearer and more consistent for consumers by requiring simple, plain English allergen declarations in a specific format and location on food labels. The key features…
Read More New requirements for labelling of allergens on packaged foods
