The Federal Government has begun an evaluation of Australia’s country of origin food labelling system to make sure it’s working for Australian consumers. The evaluation of country of origin labelling for food will consider if the labels are helping consumers make more informed choices, as well as clarifying the origin claims that businesses can make,…
Read More Participate in the Country of Origin Food Labelling Consultation
two people texting on smartphones
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) today launched the next phase of its action plan to combat scams, unveiling a suite of new resources designed to help Australians protect themselves on their home and mobile phones from scams. Chair of the ACMA’s Scam Taskforce Fiona Cameron said scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of…
Read More ACMA moves to protect Australians from phone scams
Post thumbnail
Super Consumers Australia urges insurers to drop discriminatory policies that don’t protect the unemployed or people working limited hours. Super Consumers Australia has warned that the insurance industry will put approximately 343,000 people at financial risk if it doesn’t take action by the end of September. The warning comes after the Financial Services Council promised…
Read More COVID job losses leading to people paying for junk insurance
Hands opening an empty brown leather wallet
Today’s announcement by the banking industry of further assistance to help customers experiencing financial hardship will provide some important relief to those who continue to be impacted by COVID-19. CHOICE, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Counselling Australia are at the forefront of helping people impacted by COVID-19, particularly people doing…
Read More Banks Announcement of Further Assistance for Customers a Timely Relief: Consumer Groups
A person's hand on the keyboard of a laptop on a desk
Consumers can now choose to share their banking data to access more personalised financial products and services following the launch of the Consumer Data Right today. All four major banks are capable of sharing their customers’ data, when requested by the customer. Other authorised deposit-taking institutions will join the Consumer Data Right over the coming…
Read More Consumer Data Right goes live for data sharing
A transmission tower
Victorian energy consumers can now sign up to a new energy deal with the assurance that prices won’t increase more than once every 12 months, with new rules taking effect today. The change is one of many energy reforms to begin on 1 July and mean retailers can no longer engage in ‘bait and switch’…
Read More New protections for energy customers take effect
Post thumbnail
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Friday published Testing Comprehension of the Reference Price, research jointly commissioned from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). This research provides new insights about the ways consumers understand electricity offers and the AER and the ACCC will use these insights to consider how…
Read More New research shines light on how consumers understand electricity offers
Post thumbnail
Consumers should look out for unexpected international transaction fees when buying online from major brands, the ACCC has warned. Even websites with a .com.au domain name or that appear to be Australian based may process transactions overseas, meaning consumers can get charged an international transaction fee even for a purchase made in Australian dollars. The…
Read More Consumers urged to look out for unexpected international transaction fees
Triangular road signs with 'scam' written in all caps
ASIC has seen a rise in the number of investment scam reports from Australian consumers and investors during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Reports of misconduct received by ASIC from March to May 2020 are up 20% compared to the same period last year. ASIC Executive Director for Assessment and Intelligence Warren Day said economic uncertainty…
Read More Rise in investment scams during COVID-19 pandemic
A CHOICE analysis has found over 1 in 3 Australians faced more expensive essentials at the height of coronavirus. The consumer advocate has also found freezers were a key item to face steep price rises as lockdowns came into effect. CHOICE’s Consumer Pulse survey** asked respondents if “the prices for essential goods were generally higher…
Read More Coronavirus price gouging – what went wrong?
An aeroplane wing
The Morrison Government has directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to monitor domestic air passenger services for a period of three years. The Government has consistently said Australia’s national interest is best served through having a sustainable, competitive aviation sector. ACCC monitoring will assist in protecting competition in the domestic passenger airline market,…
Read More ACCC directed to monitor domestic air passenger services
A computer screen showing a line graphy depicting the share market prices
People who use foreign currency conversion (FX) services now have greater access to accurate online calculators to help compare prices, but the ACCC says greater transparency is still needed at a time when many Australians are sending money to family and friends overseas. The ACCC’s Foreign currency exchange services inquiry report, released in September last…
Read More Easier comparisons now available for foreign currency conversions
