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The following is a transcript of the keynote address presented by Fiona Guthrie AM, Chief Executive Officer of Financial Counselling Australia, at the ACCC 2019 National Consumer Congress. Reimagining the Corporation: Why we need to change the purpose of our biggest companies INTRODUCTION I am going to begin and end this speech in the same place. And that is…

Read More Reimagining the Corporation: Fiona Guthrie’s speech to the National Consumer Congress

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The Consumers Federation of Australia’s (CFA) submission to the Federal Government’s review of the Retail Grocery Industry (Unit Pricing) Code of Conduct calls for: Continuation of the present requirements that specified grocery retailers must provide unit pricing and that any voluntary providers must comply with the same requirements as other providers. Grocery unit prices to…

Read More CFA calls for better and more unit pricing

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Consumer think-tank launches latest research report – The Renter’s Journey –at CPRC Policy Connect Series forum • 5 common challenges• 10 key policy implications• 20+ organisations involved in research process Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) has released its latest research report – The Renter’s Journey – following the rental experiences of four key groups of…

Read More Renters must be at centre of reforms, CPRC report finds

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The Systemic Insight “Sales Practices Driving Consumer Debt”, shares the Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman’s recommendations on how providers could improve their selling practices to reduce consumer financial over-commitment and debt. The report makes practical recommendations in four areas that providers can adopt in selling post-paid plans and devices: Assessing a customer’s actual capacity to pay Training sales…

Read More Systemic Insight Report: Sales Practices Driving Consumer Debt

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The February edition of Consumer Connection has been released, linking you to the latest consumer information and tips for your community from the Queensland Office of Fair Trading. In this edition: $8.5 million in redress for Queensland consumers Fuel price reporting trial helps Queensland drivers compare local servos Stronger protection for car and caravan owners introduced…

Read More Consumer Connection February 2019

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A new set of principles, guidelines and checklists cover the key areas that must be taken into account to create a trusted consumer Internet of Things service or product: security; privacy; transparency; supporting vulnerable consumers; customer support and complaint handling; and environment.  Consumer IoT Trust by Design 2019 Guidelines and Checklists was designed in collaboration…

Read More Trusted consumer Internet of Things service or product

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 Consumers are increasingly aware of plastic and other litter damaging our water systems and environment.  There are also many products that have the potential to cause significant problems to the environment once in the wastewater system. CFA has a representative on the Standards Australia Technical Committee WS-041 which is drafting a new standard on flushable products to make it…

Read More Wastewater and caring for the environment

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In 2015 the UN set an ambitious plan to address some of the pressing issues faced by the world. The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.…

Read More Sustainable development goals to tackle global challenges

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Australians’ ever-increasing appetite for data-hungry video services is transforming the communications landscape. This is a key finding of the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Communications report 2017–18, tabled in federal parliament today. The annual ACMA report examines the current telecommunication and media environment, including the latest in industry innovations and consumer trends.   ‘Over 50 per…

Read More Changes to communications landscape accelerating

Tradie with toolbelt

New home owners in NSW will be better protected after the NSW Government announced strong plans to improve the building and construction industry. Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the plan, which includes appointing a Building Commissioner, has been months in the making, after the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) commissioned an independent report into…

Read More Biggest overhaul of building laws in NSW history

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A new affordable home broadband product for financially stressed Australians on low incomes should be a key priority for political parties ahead of the 2019 Federal election, according to consumer organisation ACCAN. Australia’s peak body representing telecommunications consumers, ACCAN, is urging the nation’s political parties to consider a proposal for a wholesale broadband concession that…

Read More No Australian Left Offline

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Fixed-line NBN customers received generally good levels of service during the latest round of ACCC broadband speed tests, but some consumers experienced a dip in speeds. The ACCC’s latest Measuring Broadband Australia report, released today, expands the number of retail service providers (RSPs) to include Dodo, iPrimus and Exetel, enabling the report to cover a…

Read More NBN speeds mostly steady, but improvements needed