Media release: Retirement village contracts confusing for consumers, says consumer group

The Consumer Action Law Centre says a case in which it is assisting an elderly retirement village resident with her dispute before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) demonstrates t...

April 10, 2012

Energy retailers urged to end door-to-door sales

Consumer Action has challenged Australia's energy retailers to put an end to door-to-door energy sales. The Centre issued the challenge on the back of new research showing 77 per cent of Australians h...

April 5, 2012

Media release: Consumer and welfare groups make eleventh hour bid to protect vulnerable Victorians

A group comprising consumer advocates and welfare agencies has made an eleventh hour plea to members of the Victorian Upper House, urging them to amend a bill which would allow metropolitan water busi...

March 23, 2012

Federal Government’s Energy White Paper consultation

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...

March 19, 2012

Policy Position on Water Pricing for Sustainable Household Consumption

Consumer Action has released a policy position paper on water pricing. While recognising the difficulties of rising water prices, the paper argues that over-reliance on water pricing as a demand manag...

March 8, 2012

Media release: Consumers the losers as competition tribunal sides with power companies – yet again

Victorian households are staring down the barrel of yet another electricity price hike after the Australian Competition Tribunal (ACT) overturned significant aspects of the ruling of the energy indust...

January 20, 2012

Contracting competition in the energy retail market results in lacklustre performance

A new report showing three leading energy retailers control almost 75 percent of market share is bad news for Victorian households which are missing out on the financial benefits and service improveme...

January 11, 2012

Media release: Contracting competition in the energy retail market results in lacklustre performance

A new report showing three leading energy retailers control almost 75 per cent of market share is bad news for Victorian households which are missing out on the financial benefits and service improvem...

December 19, 2011

Media release: Energy rules must change—consumers and big business agree

Consumer groups from around Australia have joined the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and some of the nation’s biggest businesses in calling for reform to the process that sets electricity network p...

November 23, 2011

Media release: Unfair process leading to higher electricity prices

Two prominent consumer advocacy groups are calling for the federal government to abolish the current process of appeal for electricity distribution pricing determinations. A new report released by the...

September 12, 2011

Submission: Australian Energy Market Commission’s Power of Choice Review, Issues Paper

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...

August 30, 2011

Media release: Complex energy contracts are confusing consumers and stifling choice

Energy retail contracts have been put under the microscope in a report just released by the Consumer Action Law Centre. And while the report found that most contracts largely met their regulatory requ...

August 18, 2011

Media release: ASIC grants licence to ‘misleading, deceptive and unconscionable’ trader

In a move that has disappointed the Consumer Action Law Centre, ASIC has granted a consumer credit licence to a company whose conduct has been found to be misleading, deceptive and unconscionable. Th...

July 22, 2011

Submission: Advanced metering infrastructure program – Issues paper for public consultation

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...

June 21, 2011

Media release: Legal tribunal finds Motor Finance Wizard’s practices ‘unfair’ and ‘seriously flawed

Motor car dealer and financier Motor Finance Wizard has been ordered to cancel a car lease contract with a vulnerable customer, refund her money and clear her credit report. The legal decision, made...

May 13, 2011

Submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry on Network Regulation

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...

April 17, 2011

Submission: Australian Energy Regulator’s Victorian Draft Distribution Determination 2011- 2015

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...

August 19, 2010

Submission: Exposure draft – Review of initial distribution network service providers’ proposals for the 2011 – 2015 regulatory period.

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...

February 16, 2010

Submission: Review of Victoria’s wrongful disconnection payment

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...

November 4, 2009

Joint submission: Metropolitan Melbourne Water Price Review 2008-09 – draft decision

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...

May 1, 2009

Media release: Consumer Action launches litigation against Motor Finance Wizard

Consumer Action Law Centre has issued proceedings against Motor Finance Wizard (Melbourne Sales) Pty Ltd (‘Motor Finance Wizard’) and Kwik Finance (Melb) Pty Ltd (‘Kwik Finance’) in the Victorian Civi...

June 5, 2008

Policy report: Coercion and harassment at the door Consumer experiences with energy direct marketers

Since the introduction of full retail contestability in the Victorian energy market, Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Financial & Consumer Rights Council (FCRC) have received n...

November 30, 2007

Submission: Review of the effectiveness of competition in electricity and gas retail markets in Victoria – first draft report

Consumer Action has commented on the Australian Energy Market Commission’s Review of the Effectiveness of Competition in Electricity and Gas Retail Markets – First Draft Report which was released for...

November 12, 2007

Submission: Water Tariff Structures Review – Issues Paper

Consumer Action has commented on the Essential Services Commission’s Water Tariff Structures Review – Issues Paper released on 22 October 2007. To read our submission, click here: Water Tariff Stru...

November 8, 2007

Submission: Victorian Retail Competition Review

Consumer Action is very appreciative of the Commission’s early and informal consultation undertaken in preparation for the review. The Commission’s willingness to consult directly with consumer repres...

June 29, 2007

Report: Access to Energy and Water in Victoria – A research report

This Report examines the impact on Victorian households of disconnection or restriction from electricity, gas or water services. The Report comprises the findings of a project undertaken by CLCV an...

November 11, 2004