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In part two of CHOICE’s investigation, we look at the problems faced when trying to get a repair or refund. It’s July 2022 and Marilyn and Peter are sitting in the Cairns office of the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN). They’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. This is an article from CHOICE.…
Read More Car sales in remote Indigenous communities: A broken system
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CHOICE travels to the remote Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal in Far North Qld to investigate dodgy motor vehicle sales. Cedric Friday says that every time he looks at his broken-down Holden Captiva it makes him angry. The second-hand car that he and his brother-in-law spent $19,000 on sits immovable in his driveway. This is…
Read More Remote Indigenous communities left with broken cars and no redress
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Federal, state and territory building ministers have agreed on a series of sweeping national reforms that will ensure that new homes in Australia will be more comfortable, liveable, accessible and energy efficient. This is a media release from The Hon Ed Husic MP: Minister for Industry and Science. It was originally published on 26th August, 2022. Industry…
Read More Making Australia’s new homes more liveable
EV charging
The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has made a submission to the Energy Security Board in response to its Issues Paper. CFA supports two representatives who participate in the Standards Committee, EM-001 Electric Vehicle Operation. The submission has been developed with the support of these expert consumer representatives and focuses on the questions in the Issues Paper related to…
Read More Consumer empowerment must be central to Electric Vehicle Smart Charging
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If you’re trying to understand electric and hybrid vehicles, what’s under the bonnet can be a bit of a mystery including the maintenance and servicing requirements, read more here. The revised draft standard AS 5732 Electrical vehicle operations – Maintenance and repair provides requirements and guidance on the safe and appropriate handling procedures for those within the mechanical…
Read More How do you service an Electric Car? – draft open for public comment
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Driving while under the influence of alcohol affects perception, vision, concentration, reaction time and causes drowsiness – all of which increase the chances of having an accident. Consequences of drink driving include severe penalties, trauma, and death. Breath alcohol testing devices for personal use should be able to perform in a manner that allows the user to make…
Read More Breath alcohol electronic testing devices for personal use – draft open for public comment
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Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, yet when it comes to road safety, there is no national standard on the design, testing (including crash testing) or manufacture of car restraints to keep our pets and vehicle occupants safe. Dogs are the most popular animal companions (40%), followed by cats (27%). According to…
Read More Seat belts for pets?
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Prepared by CFA Executive Member Ian Jarratt, of Queensland Consumers Association. He can be reached at ijarratt@australiamail.com. The final report was handed to the Australian Government on 29 October 2021 and publicly released on 1 December 2021. The Government has not yet announced its response to the report. CFA and several member organisations participated in the…
Read More Productivity Commission’s Final Report on “Right To Repair” Released
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The ACCC welcomes legislative changes which will increase competition and choice for consumers about where they have their cars serviced and repaired. These changes adopt recommendations from the ACCC’s new car retailing industry market study. This is an Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) media release, originally published on 18th June, 2021. The Competition and Consumer Amendment…
Read More ACCC welcomes new law on motor vehicle service and repair information
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Australians have already lost over $288,000 to vehicle scams in the first quarter of this year, more than all losses reported to Scamwatch in 2019, and scammers have now begun impersonating defence personnel to con their victims. This is an ACCC media release, originally published on 27th April, 2021. In a vehicle scam, scammers post fake…
Read More Losses to car ad scams climbing
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The Morrison Government has today introduced legislation into the Parliament to establish a mandatory scheme for the sharing of motor vehicle service and repair information. This ground breaking legislation will level the playing field for the automotive repair sector, increasing competition and consumer choice. This is a media release from The Hon Michael Sukkar MP,…
Read More Morrison Government levels the playing field for independent repairers
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The Marshall Liberal Government will deliver real time petrol pricing to South Australian motorists following the findings of an extensive review undertaken by the South Australian Productivity Commission. The Commission’s review found that while petrol price cycles still existed in those jurisdictions that did have fuel price monitoring, the presence of real time pricing data…
Read More Helping motorists find the best deal at the bowser
