Submission: Consumer lease reform
Consumer Action has made a submission to Commonwealth Department of Treasury on cost disclosure and termination fees in consumer lease contracts. The submission argues that: there is no difference...
Submission: Review of Limited Merits Review for Energy Pricing Determinations
Consumer Action has provided a submission to the Standing Council on Energy & Resources on the Final Report of the Expert Panel set up to examine the Limited Merits Review Regime for energy determ...
Supplementary Submission: Senate Select Inquiry on Electricity Pricing
Consumer Action has written to the Senate Select Committee on Electricity Prices in response to the written questions it provided on 5 October 2012. The committee has asked the following questions:...
Submission: The definition of ‘terms contract’ under the Sale of Land Act 1962
Consumer Action has provided comment on Consumer Affairs Victoria's discussion paper on the definition of 'terms contract' under the Sale of Land Act 1962. We have argued that: the 2008 amendment t...
Submission: Australian Energy Market Commission’s Power of Choice Review, Draft Report
In this submission, Consumer Action argues that the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has not adequately considered many of the practical implications of proceeding with its recommendations,...
Submission: Economic Regulation of Network Service Providers—Draft Determination
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Determination of the Australian Energy Market Commission in relation to the Economic Regulation of Network Service Providers R...
Submission: ATM fees in selected very remote Indigenous communities
Consumer Action has supported the ACCC's draft determination on the Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) proposal to reduce ATM fees in selected very remote Indigenous communities. Financial Counsel...
Submission: Proposed regulations for the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Bill
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department on proposed regulations for the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Bill. This submission discusse...
Joint submission: Regulation of water retailers’ Debt Management Powers Consultation Paper
The Consumer Action Law Centre, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, Victorian Council of Social Services, Community Information and Support Victoria, Uniting Care Kildonan, National Seniors Australia,...
Submission: Response to draft regulations to support the Consumer Credit Enhancements Bill 2012
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on Regulations to support provisions in the Consumer Credit Legislation Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2012. Briefly, we have serious concerns about...
Submission: review of limited merits review discussion paper three
This submission responds to the Third Consultation Paper of the Expert Panel reviewing the Limited Merits Review regime for energy regulatory decisions. Read our submission: submission to Limited mer...
Submission: Key facts sheets for home building and home contents insurance policies
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft Key Facts Sheets for home building and home contents insurance policies. Consumer Action continues to strongly support the introductio...
Submission: ASIC Consultation Paper 178 and ASIC’s draft good practice guidance on advertising credit products and services
Consumer Action strongly supports draft Regulatory Guide 234. In particular we support ASIC's position that advertisements should give clear, accurate and balanced messages and allow consumers to make...
Joint submission: Allowance payments for jobseekers
Consumer Action and the Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW welcomes the opportunity to comment on the inquiry into the adequacy of the allowance payment system and related issues. This submission respo...
Submission: Parliamentary inquiry into Do Not Knock Register Bill
Consumer Action's submission to this inquiry argues that door-to-door sales causes widespread consumer detriment, hinders market competition, and that greater consumer protections are desperately need...
Submission: Review of grocery unit pricing
Consumer Action believes unit pricing is, and will continue to be, an appropriate regulatory mechanism and appears to create a number of direct and indirect benefits to consumers and competition, at r...
Submission: Reforming Contract Law
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...
Submission: Inquiry into the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012
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...
Media release: Time to build new consumer protections from the bottom up
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...
Submission: Submission to the Victorian Government’s consultation on the domestic building consumer protection framework
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...
Submission: Barriers to effective climate change adaptation – the role of insurance
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...
Submission: Single pricing legislation – proposal to exempt restaurants and cafes
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...
Submission: Response to Commonwealth Government discussion paper on reducing reliance on payday lending
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...
Submission: Review of the Limited Merits Review Consultation Paper Two
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...
Submission: Inquiry into the post-GFC banking sector
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...
Submission: Inquiry into the post-GFC banking sector
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...
Submission: Productivity Commission’s Regulatory Impact Assessment benchmarking study
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...
Submission: Proposed amendments to the Consumer Credit and Corporations Legislation Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2011
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...
Joint submission: Consumer protections for users of payday loans
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...
Submission: Australian Energy Market Commission, Market Review, Power of Choice (Stage 3 DSP Review)
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...
Submission: Australian Energy Market Commission’s Economic Regulation of Energy Networks Rule Change, Directions Paper
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...
Submission: review of limited merits review consultation paper one
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...
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...
Submission: Gift Cards in the Australian Market
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...
Submission: Review of Debt Agreements Under the Bankruptcy Act 1966
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...
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...
Submission: Taxi industry inquiry – complaints handling and dispute resolution
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...
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...
Joint submission: Reforming flood insurance – clearing the waters discussion paper
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...
Joint submission: Reforming Flood Insurance – Clearing the Waters discussion paper
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...
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...
Submission: Reserve Bank of Australia – Treasury ATM Taskforce consultations
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...
Submission: National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment Regulations 2011 – exposure draft
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...
Submission: Exposure Draft – National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment Regulations 2011
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...
Submission: “Reconnecting the Customer”- ACMA public inquiry consultation paper
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...
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...
Joint submission: National Legal Profession Reform
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...
Submission: Unfair terms in insurance contracts – options paper
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...
Submission: Financial Services Working Group – Corporations Amendment Regulations 2009
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,...
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...