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With many of us experiencing more time in our homes than usual, we need to maintain, or establish, behaviours and routines that promote health and wellbeing. Women’s Health Week 6-10 September 2021 reminds us to set time aside to evaluate our current lifestyle and participate in this nation-wide campaign of events and online activities – all centred…
Read More Women’s Health Week – prioritising women’s health
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When we make a complaint about products, services, staff, or the handling of a complaint we expect an effective response or resolution. An effective complaints handling system provides benefits to the public and the organisation and is fundamental to the provision of a quality service. Standards Australia has revised the standard on complaints handling and encourages views…
Read More Complaints handling standard open for public comment
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Stationery training equipment incudes exercise bicycles, training benches, treadmills, rowing machines, steppers, and other equipment for use in training areas of organisations such as sports associations, hotels, sports halls, educational establishments, studios, gyms, fitness centres etc where access and control are regulated by the owner. The nine parts of the new standards are open for…
Read More Stationary training equipment standards open for public comment
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A ‘right to repair’ is the ability of consumers to have their products repaired at a competitive price using a repairer of their choice. A recent CHOICE consumer pulse survey identified that more than eight in ten (85%) people said that buying products that will last a long time is important to them and more…
Read More Toward a meaningful right to repair
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Australia ranks 11/180 in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 (-8 since 2012) and safeguarding against loss or having any connection to corruption is a key responsibility of all organisations. Managing the fraud and corruption risk to business is a governance issue and the recently published Australian standard is intended to apply to all organisations operating…
Read More Fraud and corruption control in your organisation
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With inefficient halogen lamps proposed to be phased out in Australia from late 2022, consumers will soon be looking for more certainty around performance claims for LED lamps. Lighting accounts for around 10% of electricity usage in households, and 18–40% of in commercial premises. The recently published Australian/NZ standard provides suppliers with a clear guidance on how to…
Read More More efficient lighting for consumers
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The Standards Australia NEXTgen 2021-22 Program selects emerging industry and technical experts and provides them with an exciting opportunity to become involved in the national and international standardisation processes developing important standards of benefit to the Australian community. The goal of the program is to support the future of standards development through investing in the next generation of…
Read More Get involved in the development of Australian standards with NEXTgen 2021-22 programs
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In Australia, one child a month is seriously injured after swallowing or inserting a button battery and the ACCC has identified a number of ways to protect your family. The ACCC is also encouraging suppliers to comply with the new requirements on button batteries as soon as possible and has developed A Guide for Business on the Application of…
Read More Button batteries – new requirements for suppliers
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The Morrison Government is supporting businesses to innovate, grow and minimise compliance costs while maintaining stringent safety standards for consumer products and related services. The Government in consultation with Consumer Ministers will look to develop amendments to the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and associated legislation which would allow the adoption of trusted overseas product safety…
Read More Adopting Trusted Overseas Product Safety Standards
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Electricity is something we all use every day and take for granted. But according to Safe Work Australia risk of death or injury from electricity is strongly linked to where and how it is used. Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) supports representatives to Standards Australia Technical Committees working on the development of electrical energy standards and ensuring the consumer…
Read More Safety and electricity
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The United Nations encourages worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) has identified the environmental impact of services and products as a priority for participation on Standards Australia Technical Committees as part of the CFA Standards Project. CFA representatives are involved in standards development on Biodiversity and other environmental issues such as Environmental Management,…
Read More World Environment Day – 5th June 2021
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Wireless networks have enabled the Internet of Things (IoT) to connect the billions of physical devices around the world to the internet, enabling them to communicate real-time data without involving a human being. Consumers Federation of Australia is supporting a representative to participate on the Standards Australia Technical Committee on IoT, to bring the consumer perspective to…
Read More Confused about IoT terminology?