Articles Archives - Page 65 of 179 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

20 November , 2020

CFA gives feedback to the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991

CFA has provided written feedback, and participated in online workshops, on a Scoping Paper produced by consultants as part of the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The Act is one of the main pieces of legislation and agreements that make up the joint food regulatory system that operates in Australia…

11 November , 2020

CFA joins the EveryAGE Counts national coalition to end ageism

Consumers’ Federation of Australia is excited to have become a member of the EveryAGE Counts national coalition to end ageism. We are now a proud member of this diverse and growing coalition of organisations and individuals committed to achieving this important shift in the way we understand and experience growing older. By joining the coalition,…

10 November , 2020

Pathetic purifiers, Harvey Norman’s credit card traps and cleaners worse than water: Shonkys 2020

Australia’s leading consumer advocate has announced the recipients of the 15th annual CHOICE Shonkys. “In the sixtieth year of CHOICE, it’s fitting that the 2020 Shonkys uncover and call out practices from companies taking advantage of their customers,” says CHOICE CEO Alan Kirkland. “Whether it’s complex financial products designed to trap people in debt or…

4 November , 2020

CFA Soapbox Prizewinner — Quad Bike Performance Project

On Friday, CFA hosted its Consumer Advocacy Soapbox Session, celebrating the best consumer advocacy campaigns over 2019–20. The Soapbox Session was initially part of the National Consumer Congress, which was to be in March. With the support of the ACCC, CFA moved the Session online. The winner of the Award was Raphael Grzebieta from the…

2 November , 2020

ASIC commences proceedings against ACBF Funeral Plans and Youpla Group concerning funeral expenses insurance

ASIC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against ACBF Funeral Plans Pty Ltd (ACBF Funeral Plans) and Youpla Group Pty Ltd (Youpla Group) for alleged contraventions of the ASIC Act. ACBF Funeral Plans, a wholly owned subsidiary of Youpla Group, offered, promoted and sold the Aboriginal Community Funeral Plan (ACF Plan), a funeral expenses…

30 October , 2020

Productivity Commission Inquiry into Right to Repair

The Morrison Government yesterday released terms of reference for the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the Right to Repair in Australia. Consumers, or third parties, can face challenges repairing products that develop faults or require maintenance, due to a lack of access to necessary tools, parts or diagnostic software. According to MobileMuster, 33 per cent of…

28 October , 2020

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman reports third consecutive quarter of growth in overall complaints, Q1 small business complaints spike 28%

Between July and September 2020, residential consumers and small businesses made 34,476 complaints about phone and internet services. This is an increase of 3.4 percent on the previous quarter, and the third consecutive quarter of incremental growth in overall complaints. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s Quarter 1 (Q1) 2020-21 Complaints Report shows complaints from small businesses…

28 October , 2020

Measuring Australia’s digital divide: the Australian digital inclusion index 2020

The Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2020, released by RMIT and Swinburne University of Technology for Telstra, illustrates Australia’s online participation. The following is a summary of the key findings of the study, published by the Analysis and Policy Observatory. The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the critical importance of digital inclusion in contemporary Australia. With the…

26 October , 2020

Building or renovating? Free online dictionary for building and plumbing terms

Having difficulty understanding the jargon of your builder or plumber? Different terminology makes it confusing to understand exactly what is needed. The free online National Dictionary of Building and Plumbing Terms aims to assist consumers, industry and government to understand the range of terminology used to describe the same or similar terms and processes across Australia. Standards…

21 October , 2020

A tale of two homes: Australia’s housing market divides the population

Consumers and COVID-19: September results snapshot. New consumer data released today by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) investigating the experience of consumers in the month of September reveals a stark contrast in the experiences of renters and mortgage holders trying to maintain their financial, emotional and physical wellbeing during the pandemic. Higher levels of financial stress…

14 October , 2020

World Standards Day 2020 – Protecting the Planet with Standards

On World Standard Day, CFA recognises the efforts of the volunteers who represent CFA on Standards Australia Technical Committees. Each year on the 14 October, the members of standards making organisations celebrate World Standards Day – This year’s theme is Protecting the Planet with Standards. Currently CFA has representation on a number of committees that are developing…

14 October , 2020

CFA representative appointed to ISO/COPOLCO-Capacity building mentorship programme

CFA Standards Representative John Henry has been appointed to be a mentor as part of the ISO-COPOLCO-Capacity building mentorship programme. He will be working with trainees in developing countries to attain concrete standards-related consumer protection objectives and significantly improve consumer involvement with priority issues for the country. Participation of developing countries in international standardization is…