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,...
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...
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...
Victorians need better access to quick, fair and free justice in 2018
Consumer Action has launched our latest election platform for this November's Victorian State Election which calls on our state politicians to make access to justice fairer and more affordable for all...
New report uncovers murky world of online marketing
Online marketing, lead generation and cold-calling have been scrutinised in a new report from Consumer Action Law Centre. The report, entitled Dirty Leads: consumer protection in online lead gener...
The psychology of Christmas shopping: how marketers nudge you to buy
Paul Harrison, Deakin University Many people see marketing as a form of manipulation, particularly around Christmas and the other retail bonanzas: Easter, Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day and Fath...
Consumer Action Strategic Plan 2017-2021
We use our skills in the law, financial counselling, policy and campaigning to make consumer markets fair. We do this by: Assisting and empowering people – by advising them about their rights, connec...
Protected: The Do Not Knock movement grows
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Rural and Regional Outreach Project – Evaluation Report
Consumer Action has an ongoing commitment to strategic outreach focusing on capacity building for community workers, who play a vital role in connecting vulnerable clients with legal assistance. Throu...
Community Legal Centres face funding cut from July 1
UPDATE: The Federal Government has announced a reversal of the planned cuts. However, Community Legal Centres are still facing a surge in community need that the Productivity Commission estimates requ...
Review of the Warehousemen’s Liens Act 1958 – Position Paper
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Storage Industry Position Paper. In our view, the proposed changes to the Warehousemen’s Liens Act 1958 (...
Senate Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into Australia’s general insurance industry
This submission examines home and car insurance from the consumer’s perspective. It focuses on transparency in Australia’s home and car insurance industries, the benefits of establishing an independen...
Retail Remuneration Review – Issues Paper
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), is pleased to provide a submission in response to the Retail Remuneration Review Issues Paper (Issues Paper). As stated in our joint response to th...
EDR Review – Interim Report
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Review of the Financial System Dispute Resolution Framework – Interim Report (Interim Report). This joint submission was coordinated by Consumer Action...
Submission in response to Consultation Paper 272 – Remaking ASIC class orders on time-sharing schemes
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) are pleased to make this submission to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) p...
Productivity Commission Draft Report – Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to provide comment in response to the Productivity Commission Draft Report – Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration (Draft Report)....
Why we are willing to pay for mega expensive things
Paul Harrison, Deakin University It may not seem logical or good value for money, but there are plenty of us that will fork out for expensive presents this Christmas. Maybe it will be close to A$3,...
Regulation of the Legal Profession: Consumer Focus and Engagement
The objectives of the Legal Profession Uniform Law, which currently applies in NSW and Victoria, include: “enhancing the protection of clients of law practices…” and “empowering clients of law pract...
Research report: Review of Tenants’ and Consumers’ Experience of VCAT
There are “very substantial barriers” that inhibit people from accessing justice at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), according to a new research report. Consumer Action Law C...
Emergency Service Levy Monitor – price exploitation and false conduct draft guidelines
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to comment on the Emergency Services Levy Insurance Monitor Act 2016 Draft Guidelines on the prohibition against price exploitation and Draft Gu...
Productivity Commission’s Issues Paper Human Services – Identifying sectors for reform (Issues Paper).
Consumer Action Law Centre is pleased to provide this submission to the Productivity Commission’s Issues Paper Human Services – Identifying sectors for reform (Issues Paper). This submission provides...
Public Inquiry: Data Availability and Use
Consumer Action has provided a submission in response to the Productivity Commission's Issues Paper for its inquiry on Data Availability and Use. The submission primarily focuses on the need to mai...
Submission to the ESC Water Pricing Approach Review
Consumer Action has partnered with the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre and the Victorian Council of Social Service to provide a submission to the Essential Services Commission Position Paper, A New...
Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws: Proposed policy positions for consultation
Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the consultation paper, Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws: Proposed policy positions for consultation, rele...
Federal Circuit Court Financial Counselling Project Evaluation
Since September 2014, the Federal Circuit Court (FCC) in Melbourne has provided direct financial counselling services to self-represented debtors in the FCC’s Bankruptcy Lists. This pilot service, imp...
Evaluating Consumer Action’s worker advice service
Consumer Action Law Centre (“Consumer Action”) improves the lives of Victorians by advancing fairness in the marketplace. To this end, we publish consumer law information, run a legal advice service,...
Parliamentary Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Council on the Ageing Victoria (COTA), Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), Justice Connect (Seniors Law) (Justice Connect) and Residents of Reti...