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Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has welcomed an ASIC report calling on Australia’s insurers to improve their complaints handling processes.   “We are disappointed but not surprised.?The findings from ASIC’s review of insurance complaints handling mirrors the experience of many financial counsellors supporting their clients through the claims process,” said Vicki Staff, FCA’s insurance expert.   ASIC’s review of…

Read More Review Finds Systemic Failures in Insurers’ Internal Dispute Resolution

International Volunteer Day

 International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a global celebration highlighting the vital role volunteers play in addressing the world’s challenges and highlights the power of volunteering to strengthen communities and create positive change. Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) uses the opportunity to acknowledge and shine a light on the important work of volunteers. CFA depends on the…

Read More International Volunteer Day – December 5 2024

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The Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) is developing their priorities for 2025-26 and is inviting interested parties to complete a short survey to share “new or emerging risks, issues or practices that you believe are concerns and causing harm to consumers or leading to poor outcomes”. The survey is open from 2/12/2024 to 7/02/2025 and survey…

Read More Banking Code Compliance Committee 2025-26 Priorities Consultation

News

Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin said she was absolutely delighted that Minister Bill Shorten has announced consumer protections and reforms to Centrepay that restore it to its original purpose; that it should only be used by consumers to make regular voluntary payments for essential bills and expenses. (link to media release) “We have…

Read More New Centrepay Reform Bans Predatory Rent-to-Buy’s in Win for Consumers and Advocates

Knowledge is Power

ICAN’s Yarnin’ Energy team launched a ‘Get emPOWERed!’ competition on Monday the 11th of November. The competition has been designed to engage people to participate in the coaching component of our Yarnin’ Energy program. “The first fifty people to book and attend an appointment with one of our Yarnin’ Energy Mentors will receive a FREE Energy…

Read More ICAN Launches ‘Get emPOWERed!’ Competition through Yarnin’ Energy Program

SAFETY

Child-resistant packaging is used to create a physical barrier between a child and a potentially hazardous product. Various types of packaging are recognized as being child-resistant, based on performance testing against standards for specific product categories and packaging types. Since this type of packaging was introduced, the incidence of accidental ingestion of potentially hazardous products…

Read More Child-Resistant Packaging – Draft Standard Open for Public Comment

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Global average concentrations of all major long-lived greenhouse gases continue to rise in the atmosphere, driving further climate change says a new report by CSIRO: State of the Climate.  This eighth biennial State of the Climate report is a synthesis of the science that underpins our understanding of Australia’s climate. It is intended to inform…

Read More Greenhouses Gases Continue to Rise – 2023 the Warmest Year on Record

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Building on an earlier consultation regarding the extent and nature of unfair trading practices in Australia, the Federal Government is seeking feedback on the proposed design of both general and specific prohibitions on unfair practices. Currently proposed changes to the Australian Consumer Law are based on both general in-principal amendments and some specific prohibitions targeting…

Read More Consultations Open on Proposed Unfair Trading Prohibitions

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ACCAN has welcomed the transparency of data released this week by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman which highlights a small year-on-year jump in complaints as well as the telling figure of 30% of consumers not being able to reach a resolution after it is referred to their telco. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett said, “consumers rely on…

Read More 30% of Complaints Return Unresolved After Telco Referral

Logos for: Consumer Action Law Centre, Ican, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Mob Strong Debt Help, Financial Counselling Australia, Super Consumers Australia

Below is a joint submission made on behalf of: •Consumer Action Law Centre•Financial Counselling Australia•Financial Rights Legal Centre•Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network•Mob Strong Debt Help•Super Consumers Australia. This media release and joint submission was found on Consumer Action Law Centre’s website here: Our organisations welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the…

Read More Joint Submission Details Challenges and Fixes for IDs

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A Sydney woman with disability has won better access for assistance dogs on Qantas flights following a Federal Court discrimination claim.  The Justice and Equity Centre and Maurice Blackburn Lawyers represented Rachael Fullerton after Qantas refused to give permission for her assistance dog Strike to fly with her. Strike is trained to alleviate the effects…

Read More Discrimination Case Settlement a Win for Travellers with Assistance Dogs, Calls for National and Enforceable Aviation Standard Continue