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Minh Nguyen, a CFA representative on the Weight Management Council of Australia has provided CFA with an update on their activities. CFA are happy to report that WMCA has two new members including Weight Watchers and Nestle. The independent chair for WMCA has been working to engage with Australian federal government to highlight the role…
Read More WMCA gains two new members and further news.
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CFA rep Elaine Attwood was part of the Australian delegation which recently attend the 19th meeting of ISO TC 229 Nanotechnologies in Singapore. Some 170 delegates from 37 countries attended.
Read More CFA rep attends Nanotechnology meeting in Singapore
Australia’s peak consumer body, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia, welcomed a finding from the Productivity Commission that additional public funding be provided to support consumer advocacy. The finding, made in the Commission’s Draft Report on Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration, recognised there is considerable unmet demand from policy makers for input from informed consumer advocates.…
Read More Productivity Commission calls for greater investment in consumer advocacy
Car buyers are being advised to exercise caution before agreeing to purchase ‘after sale add-ons’ and to get multiple quotes before accepting any finance offered by motor vehicle dealers. The advice follows a recent increase in complaints to Consumer Protection about the ‘extras’ sold at the point of sale of a vehicle which can include…
Read More Doubts about the value of car sale add-ons
Following the slew of financial scandals Australians have faced in recent years, consumer advocates say that Australians need simple and accessible justice with reformed Ombudsman services. The Review of the Financial System External Dispute Resolution and Complaints Framework (Ramsay Review), led by Professor Ian Ramsay, today released its interim report. In response to the review,…
Read More Victims of financial scandals need simple justice – response to Ramsay EDR Review
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Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has welcomed the establishment of a Senate Inquiry that will examine cases of wrongdoing in the banking and financial services sector. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant. This inquiry gives us a chance to shine a light on the anti-consumer practices that are riddled throughout the banking system,” says CHOICE Head of…
Read More CHOICE welcomes inquiry into banking sector
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Financial counsellors – who help hundreds of Australians with financial services disputes each year – have provided overwhelming support for the merger of the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Credit & Investments Ombudsman into a one stop financial complaints ombudsman service. Seventy-five percent of financial counsellors that responded to a survey by Financial Counselling Australia…
Read More Financial Counselling Australia: Financial Counsellors Support Merger of FOS and CIO
A group of like-minded advocacy groups have come together to end the data drought by forming the Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition to champion better communications services for consumers and small businesses living in rural, remote or regional areas. The Coalition includes the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), the…
Read More ACCAN: New Coalition formed to end the data drought
Paul Harrison, Deakin University When customers are offered a “cooling off” period, they don’t change their minds, even when the alternative is considered subjectively better, our research finds. We also found that some consumers (around 30%) only responded when contacted by the seller and asked if they would still like to opt in. Under current…
Read More Cooling-off periods for consumers don’t work: study
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With summer fast approaching, wearing sunglasses becomes part of our daily routine, but are they protecting you the way they should.
Read More Sunglasses – more than a fashion accessory
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In one year in Australia, 1668 people aged 65 years and over were hospitalised because they fell from a ladder. Sixty-two per cent of those injuries occurred in or around their home.
Read More Ladder safety
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The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) have collaborated to publish a report on telecommunications affordability. The report, titled Connectivity Costs: Telecommunications Affordability for Low-Income Australia was formed through over 500 surveys with Centrelink recipients and low-income Health Care Card Holders and multiple focus groups. The…
Read More Gap in service: ACCAN and SACOSS release report on a lack of telecommunication services to low-income consumers
