Report

Childcare Infographic

Original media release from the ACCC, published 5/07/2023. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has examined the price and availability of childcare services, how households select childcare services and the impact of Government contributions in its interim report, published today. It draws on information collected from a range of childcare providers around Australia as well…

Read More Pricing Practices and Operating Costs of Childcare Services to be examined, as Latest ACCC Report Confirms Fees Outpace Inflation

woman holding phone and baby, child standing to the side

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has released the report ‘A time for change – Three years of systemic investigations in review’, calling for improved consumer protections through stronger regulation in the telco sector, and the establishment of a registration scheme for telcos.

Read More “Current rules no longer fit for purpose”: TIO Calls for New Rules to Better Protect Consumers

A person looking at a flights board at an airport A person looking at a flights board at an airport

The ACCC data shows Australian domestic airline market as a place dominated by Qantas and Virgin, with those two airlines accounting for over 90% of domestic airline travel over the past 3 years. Even with the launch of Bonza and the expansion of Rex to intercity flights, the duopoly of Qantas and Virgin is unlikely to be significantly impacted in the short-term.

Read More ACCC: Australian Domestic Airline Competition at Critical Juncture

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s (TIO) Quarter Three Complaints Report shows residential consumers and small businesses made 17,777 complaints about phone and internet services between January and March this year. While complaints have remained steady compared to the previous quarter, the results show an almost 19 per cent decrease against the same period last year.

Read More Problems Persist but Hold Steady – TIO 3rd Quarterly Report

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With the release of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) ‘Choice Heatmap‘ which provides greater performance transparency and scrutiny on various multi-sector Choice investment options, Super Consumers Australia (SCA) released a media statement on 26/04/2023 (below) calling for more transparency and testing while emphasising the specific vulnerability of Australian retirees: “It is appalling that after…

Read More “Some super funds shouldn’t be in the market”

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The ACCC has highlighted a range of harms to consumers and small businesses occurring across social media services, including excessive data collection practices, lack of effective dispute resolution options, prevalence of scams, lack of transparency for advertisers and inadequate disclosure of sponsored content by influencers and brands.

Read More ACCC Social Media Report Finds Consumers and Small Businesses Require More Protections

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Triangular road signs with 'scam' written in all caps

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has just released its 2022 Targeting Scams report in which it found an 80% increase in total losses compared to 2021. Using data from regulators and government agencies, the report highlights the need for further collaboration between government bodies, banks, regulators, telcos, and digital platforms to close “significant…

Read More ACCC Calls for United Front as Scammers Steal Over $3bn from Australians

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The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), along with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), has found that while direct debit may work for some consumers direct debits automatic system and lack of flexibility created unfair additional costs and financial distress for vulnerable consumers. In a media release (05/04/2023) ACCAN said: A thriving and competitive…

Read More Direct Debit for Telcos and Utilities a Problem for Vulnerable Consumers

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From Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee 04/04/2023 Media Release. The Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee (IBCCC) has urged insurance brokers to recognise the importance of reporting breaches following a concerning finding in its latest Annual Data Report. The IBCCC’s report, which looks at the performance of insurance brokers subscribed to the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice, found…

Read More IBCCC Publishes its 2021 Annual Data Report: Insurance brokers need to embrace a culture of reporting