The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and CHOICE, along with other consumer advocacy organisations, have welcomed the Australian Governments commitment of $58 million for the establishment and running of the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) to be implemented over the next two years.
Read More National Anti-Scam Centre Welcomed by ACCCC and CHOICE
From July 2024 select advocacy groups for consumers and small business will be able to lodge complaints with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) – and the ACCC will be obligated to respond. From the website of Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh MP:
Read More Designated Complaints Function Announced
“The $7.75 million will enable the foundation to not only provide support to existing grants that are
about to expire, but also implement new projects,” Mr Brouwer said. “This comes at a time of great
financial hardship and, consequently, a time of huge pressure on the financial counselling sector.
“Our funding priorities include family violence victims, tenants at risk of homelessness, First Nations
communities and people in prison.”
Original from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), released there on 10/05/2023. The Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct Committee (CAC) has received Dr Michael Schaper’s final report on the independent review of the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry Code of Conduct (the Code). The report provides 15 recommendations in…
Read More Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry Code of Conduct – Independent Review
ASIC is warning credit providers and debt management firms that strong, targeted action against predatory lending, high-cost credit and misconduct impacting consumers experiencing financial difficulty is expected in the coming months as part of its continuing focus on protecting consumers.
Read More ASIC Sharpens Focus on Credit and Debt Management
Original media release on 9/05/2023 by Super Consumers Australia (SCA). The Federal Government has strengthened the superannuation system today by ensuringpeople are paid the super they earn, creating fairer super tax concessions and providinglong-term funding to continue an independent superannuation consumer advocate. SuperConsumers Australia has been delivering on this mission for the last five years…
Read More Voice for Consumers Will Strengthen Superannuation
We are now estimated to be spending over $33 billion annually to keep our pets fed, healthy and well-accessorised. Food represents 51% of all expenditure, around 89% of this total is on dogs and cats according to the AMA 2022 report Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people. Standards Australia has released…
Read More Pet Food for Cats and Dogs – Have Your Say
National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and a chance for all of us to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers. The theme for this year is The Change Makers, a celebration of our power to drive change and ensure volunteering is inclusive of all members of the Australian…
Read More National Volunteer Week 15-21 May 2023: The Change Makers
Original media release 1/05/2023 from Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Privacy regulators from across Australia have issued a joint statement to mark the start of Privacy Awareness Week 2023 (1 to 7 May). For Privacy Awareness Week, privacy authorities from around Australia are joining together to call for people, organisations and agencies to get ‘back to basics’…
Read More Privacy Week 1-7 May 2023: Back to Basics
“Cost of living issues aren’t going away for the foreseeable future, so it’s particularly concerning that over 40% of the Australian adult population are unaware that they can contact their telco provider for help managing their bills. This research shows that it is imperative that financial hardship policies are promoted by telcos and made easily accessible on their websites,”
Read More Consumers Want (and need) More from Telcos
Super Consumers Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement that people will now be paid super at the same time as wages. The move will see more money in the pockets of Australians at retirement and help the regulator crack down on wage theft.
Read More Super Payday
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”
