This submission in response to the Commonwealth Government's discussion paper on the scope to reform Australian contract law. The submission: highlights the significance of consumer contracting (wh...
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012. Our submission concerns the changes relating to cre...
In its response to a Victorian Government consultation paper, Consumer Action urged the Government to take decisive action, arguing small reforms around the edges would do little to help consumers see...
Broadly, this submission: argues that the nature of domestic building transactions mean that specialised and strengthened consumer protections are required; recommends that the entire consumer prot...
In this submission to the Productivity Commission's draft report on Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation Consumer Action argues against the Commission's assessment that subsidising flood in...
On 7 May 2012, the Hon. Michael O'Brien MP and the Hon. Anthony Roberts MP wrote to Consumer Action inviting it to comment on the proposal to exempt restaurants and cafes from national single pricing...
This submission: Expresses significant concerns with the way the payday lending problem is framed in the discussion paper. In particular, we do not agree that high-cost short-term lending is a neces...
Consumer Action’s response to the Review of Limited Merits Review Regime's Consultation Paper 2, Additional Statement of Issues and Questions. To read our submission please click here: Submission to...
This submission makes the following brief points: that the development of an independent measure of the cost of bank funding (including offshore wholesale funding, and deposits), regularly reported...
Rather than responding to each point of the Committee's terms of reference, this submission makes the following brief points: that the development of an independent measure of the cost of bank fundi...
This submission argues that the Regulatory Impact Assessment process could be improved if government agencies had more guidance on how to assess the benefits of regulation and the less tangible impact...
In brief, this submission recommends: With regards to hardship variations that Government consider providing detailed guidance to credit providers, perhaps through ASIC, to assist them to better a...
The following is a joint submission in response to Treasury's April 2012 discussion paper on proposed reforms to Small Amount Credit Contracts. This submission has been prepared by Consumer Action La...
This review is about 'enabling consumers to make informed choices about the way they use electricity can help achieve efficient investment'. Consumer Action agrees that there are opportunities to impr...
This submission responds to the Directions Paper released by the Australian Energy Market Commission's on a National Energy and Gas Rule change proposal relating to the economic regulation of networks...
This submission responds to the Initial Discussion Paper of the Expert Panel reviewing the Limited Merits Review regime for energy regulatory decisions. Read our submission click: Initial submission...
Consumer Action made a substantial submission to the Federal Government’s Energy White Paper consultation. The Draft White Paper is largely directed to industry development and investment, but is sile...
We’ve made a submission to the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (CCAAC) in response to its Issues Paper, Gift Cards in the Australian Market. We’ve argued that consumers should be better...
Consumer Action has provided a submission to this review of debt agreements undertaken by the Attorney-General's Department. The submission: argues for a minimum income threshold to access debt agre...
This submission responds to the Issues Paper released by the Australian Energy Market Commission on its demand side participation (stage 3) review, dubbed 'Power of Choice'. Read our submission click...
In this submission, Consumer Action responds to only one of the questions in the consultation paper - that is, ‘do the Victorian Taxi Directorate and taxi booking networks have adequate policies and p...
Consumer Action welcomes the new Government's attempt to understand and address some of the underlying consumer concerns with the mandated rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) or smart me...
The following is a joint consumer submission in response to the Clearing the Waters discussion paper released by the Australian Government on 5 April 2011. The Brotherhood of St Laurence, Choice, Cons...
Consumer Action has contributed to a joint consumer submission in response to the Clearing the Waters discussion paper (the discussion paper) released by the Australian Government on 5 April 2011. The...
Consumer Action welcomes the Productivity Commission’s investigation into benchmarking as a means of achieving more efficient delivery of network services and electricity infrastructure. Benchmarking...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the RBA-Treasury ATM Taskforce's report on the March 2009 ATM reforms. The March 2009 reforms can be considered a broad success, both because...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft of the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment Regulations 2011, setting out the proposed amendment to ban exit fees on...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft of the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment Regulations 2011, setting out the proposed amendment to ban exit fees on...
Customer service is extremely poor in the Australian telecommunications industry, and has been for many years. Misleading advertising, unfair contract terms and deceptive sales practices are so common...
Consumer Action strongly supports the Draft Decision and the level of scrutiny the AER has applied to the Distribution Network Service Providers' regulatory proposals. We continue to have some concern...
This submission considers the proposed regulation from the viewpoint of individual, small business and community organisations as clients. This is a once in a generation opportunity for significant r...
Consumer Action thanks the Government for seeking stakeholder input on addressing unfair terms in insurance contracts, facilitated by the publication of the Unfair terms in insurance contracts - Optio...
Consumer Action is a strong supporter of the objectives of the Financial Services Working Group in endeavouring to make financial services product disclosure simpler and more meaningful for consumers,...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Australian Energy Regulator's review of initial Distribution Network Service Providers' Proposals for the 2011 - 2015 Regulatory Pe...
Whilst Consumer Action generally agrees with the proposition in the Proposals Paper – that the underlying distinction between illegitimate, or phoenix activity and a legitimate use of the corporate fo...
We welcome the opportunity to provide comment to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission in response to its Discussion Paper on the fire services levy and insurance. This submission is made joi...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide comment to the inquiry process established by the Government to examine options for clarifying the unconscionable conduct provisions of the Trade Pr...
Consumer Action remains strongly supportive of the Victorian wrongful disconnection payment legislative obligation. It continues to fulfill its role as an incentive on retailers to guard against non-c...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee‘s Inquiry into State Government Taxation and Debt. The Inquiry terms of referenc...
Consumer Action supports national harmonisation and clarification of Australia’s laws on statutory conditions and warranties, so long as harmonisation does not weaken protections for consumers. Howev...
We welcome the opportunity to provide these comments on the National Human Rights Consultation to the Australian Government. We further commend the government on its action to ensure this important is...
Consumer Action strongly supports national unfair contract terms regulation. We consider that the draft legislation in the Paper largely reflects the policy intent previously communicated by the Minis...
This submission is put forward by the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre Ltd and the Consumer Action Law Centre in response to the Draft Decision released by the Victorian Essential Services Commissio...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Victorian Government’s exposure draft – Crime Amendment (Identity Crime) Bill 2008. We support the Bill’s proposals to provide for new and c...
Consumer Action supports the RBA’s efforts to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of payments systems in Australia, including the ATM system. As the Consultation notes, interchange fee amounts...
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission to the Senate Economics Committee’s Inquiry into the need to develop a clear statutory definition of unconscionable conduct for the...
CHOICE and Consumer Action support and endorse the joint consumer submission to the Review of the Code of Banking Practice. This submission concentrates on the issue of bank penalty fees in more detai...
Consumer Action is pleased to make a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into competition in the banking and non-banking sectors. Our submission conside...
As detailed in this submission, we support many of the amendments to the framework for trustee remuneration proposed by the paper. However, we are concerned that the tenor of the paper is primarily de...
Consumer Action welcomes opportunity to provide this submission to the Senate Economics Committee’s Inquiry into the Unit Pricing (Easy comparison of grocery prices) Bill 2008. In summary, our reco...