Other Archives - Consumer Action Law Centre

Saving Responsible Lending: Senate Committee opening statement

On 19 February 2021, Gerard Brody, CEO of Consumer Action Law Centre and Fiona Guthrie, CEO, Financial Counselling Australia spoke at the Senate Economics Legislation Committee hearing on the Nation...

Scam alert: Be aware

We’ve had reports of scammers falsely using Consumer Action’s name to obtain money and banking details from their victims. Consumer Action is not responsible for these calls. We will never ask for mon...

Impact Report 2019-2020
Our Consumer Action Impact Report 19-20, Audited Financials and 2020 Stakeholder Survey Results

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Revamped Koorihelp website and Facebook page launched for community

Consumer Action has launched a revamped Koorihelp website and new Facebook page focused on providing the latest information about pressing consumer issues and services to Victoria’s Aboriginal and Tor...

Taking advantage: The negative impact of funeral insurance in Aboriginal Communities

This opinion piece is by Kaylee Anderson and Mark Holden and it is based on an article – ‘The impact of funeral insurance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities’ – which first appeared...

Inquiry into Victoria’s Response to COVID-19

COVID-19 has deeply affected the Victorian community in unprecedented ways. With a significant number of job losses and most of the population staying at home in compliance with public health orders,...

Are you experiencing financial hardship during the Covid-19 crisis?

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Woman in red t-shirt looking at her laptop, stressed.

We’re at crisis point. Government needs to shut down predatory lenders.

Every week, community and consumer advocates speak to people trapped in payday lending debt. For years, we’ve been campaigning to stop the debt trap and harm caused by payday lenders. We’ve talked to...

Consumer Action Law Centre’s work during COVID-19 health crisis

The team at Consumer Action Law Centre are continuing to support people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage through COVID-19. Our free Consumer Legal Advice Service continues to operate,...

Keeping communities connected

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Legal Assistance To Victims Of Financial Services Wrongdoing Needs Boost

Collectively, our services assist thousands of Australians subjected to poor bank and insurer behaviour every year. However we are only ever able to serve a fraction of the demand. Free and independen...

What type of financial relief is available for people directly affected by the Victorian bushfires?

Here is a list of relief packages available to help relieve the financial stress associated with paying: Credit card bills Loan repayments Energy bills Water bills Landline and mobile...

What type of financial support is available for people who have lost homes or income due to the Victorian bushfires?

Here is a list of financial payments available to support people who have lost their homes or their income as a direct result of the 2019-2020 bushfires in Victoria. This is not an exhaustive list...

Bushfire 2019-20 Support

As has been widely reported, we have never seen a bushfire crisis of this magnitude in Australia. Here is a list of ways you can give and receive support during this time. Victorian Legal A...

FinTech and RegTech should support positive outcomes for consumers
Senate Select Committee on Financial Technology and Regulatory Technology – Inquiry into Financial Technology and Regulatory Technology

While we support the development of innovative services and business models that genuinely meet the needs of consumers much of the existing legal and regulatory frameworks are no longer fit for purpos...

Fairness must drive consumer policy in 2020

by Gerard Brody, CEO of Consumer Action Law Centre Fairness will be the big issue in consumer policy during 2020. It is being talked about like never before. This follows on from Kenneth...

A dynamic year for consumer advocacy

There’s no denying that 2019 was a dynamic one for Consumer Action, bringing a wave of change for consumer rights in Australia. You can find out more about what we’ve been up to this past year in our...

Holiday Hours 2019-20

Consumer Action Law Centre and our branch of the National Debt Helpline will be working on limited operating hours during the December-January holiday period. Date Consumer Action Legal Help...

Victorian Government’s class action changes promote corporate accountability

The Victorian Government’s proposed changes to class action rules should enable greater access to justice and promote corporate accountability, according to Consumer Action Law Centre. The Justice...

Alert: Membo Finance Pty Ltd trading as Clear Loans

We have been contacted by a number of financial counsellors, community workers and the general public with serious concerns about ClearLoans. On its website ClearLoans advertises itself as “guarantor...

Insurance pricing differences: New vs existing customers

Local councils must take financial hardship into account when collecting rates
Local Government Rating System Review

Financial counsellors assist clients who are experiencing financial hardship. Most of WEstjustice’s and Consumer Action’s clients are grappling with debts and meeting the high cost of living in Melbou...

ASIC Enforcement Review
Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Exposure draft legislation, ASIC Enforcement Review Taskforce Final Report

In our joint response to exposure draft legislation implementing certain aspects of the ASIC Enforcement Review Taskforce (ERT) Final Report, Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financi...

Integrated Practice Project: 2019 Mid-Year Report

Recognising that we need to take a coordinated approach to addressing the civil needs of Victorian Aboriginal communities, Consumer Action Law Centre and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service teamed...

Unconscionable conduct: Divided High Court confirms need for change to the law

In its response to the High Court finding that a ‘book-up’ credit scheme operated in the remote Aboriginal community of Mintabie in the South Australian APY lands was not unconscionable, Consumer Acti...

National Consumer Congress Keynote Address: How to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable consumers in regulated markets

The following keynote speech was delivered by Consumer Action CEO, Gerard Brody at the National Consumer Congress 2019 on Thursday, 14 March 2019 in Melbourne. Today I want to ask whether w...

Senate Inquiry report recommends vital safeguards for Australian families struggling with debt

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) says that, if implemented, the recommendations in the final report from the Senate Inquiry into credit and financial services targeted at Australians at ri...

Prohibition will strengthen the consumer law and allow regulators to deal with practices that cause consumer detriment
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission - Digital Platforms Inquiry Preliminary Report

Consumer Action has made a submission to the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry Preliminary Report. The submission focuses primarily on the proposal to develop a general prohibition against unfair practic...

Submission: Inquiry into credit and financial services targeted at Australians at risk of financial hardship
Senate Standing Committees on Economics - Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into Credit and Financial Services Targeted at Australians at Risk of Financial Hardship

This Senate Inquiry is a crucial opportunity to close the regulatory loopholes exploited by fringe lenders and ‘debt help’ companies. These companies can entrench disadvantage for some of the most vul...

Submission: Reforms to strengthen penalties for corporate and financial sector misconduct – Draft Legislation
Consumer and Corporations Division - Reforms to Strengthen Penalties for Corporate and Financial Sector Misconduct (Draft Legislation)

This submission supports the proposed increases to maximum criminal and civil penalties across a number of provisions, the expansion in provisions subject to penalties, and the power to obtain disgorg...

National Energy Guarantee Draft Detailed Design Consultation Paper – Commonwealth Elements
Minister for the Environment and Energy (Parliament House) - National Energy Guarantee Draft Detailed Design Consultation Paper (Commonwealth Elements)

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the National Energy Guarantee (Guarantee) Draft Detailed Design Consultation Paper for Commonwealth Elements (Co...

Letter to the editor: Credit reporting not great for the public

The fintech industry's claims that delays in putting more customer data into credit reports will entrench the big four's market dominance need scrutinising ('Labor credit report delay will entrench ba...

Submission: Options for greater involvement by private sector life insurers in worker rehabilitation
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services - Submission on options for greater involvement by private sector life insurers in worker rehabilitation

This joint submission of CHOICE, Financial Rights Legal Centre and Consumer Action Law Centre responds to the insurance industry proposal for greater involvement by life insurers in worker rehabilitat...

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