Cost-of-living measures in State Budget will make a positive difference
Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Stephanie Tonkin has welcomed the cost-of-living measures announced in the Victorian State Budget saying they will make a ‘positive difference’ in the lives of many peo...
Essential Services Commission draft decision will help thousands in energy hardship
Consumer Action Law Centre strongly supports today’s draft decision from the Essential Services Commission (ESC) on stage one of its reforms to Victoria’s retail energy market, which will help the in...
‘Advance long-awaited reforms’ Consumer Action congratulates new Assistant Treasurer
Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin has congratulated Dr Daniel Mulino on his appointment to the positions of Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister in the new Albanese Govern...
A historic opportunity to enact a stronger consumer-focused agenda say advocates
Consumer advocates have congratulated the Albanese Government on its emphatic re-election victory and called for it to seize the moment to govern with an even stronger consumer-focused agenda in its s...
First ‘designated complaint’ targets the nationwide scourge of door-knock unsolicited selling
Consumer Action Law Centre is calling for a nationwide ban on unsolicited selling in the first ever designated ‘super’ complaint presented to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)....
‘Cost-of-living’ at the centre of Election 2025: Our consumer-centric priorities revealed
Consumer Action Law Centre has revealed a list of its top consumer-centric priorities to make life fairer and better for all Australians, ahead of the upcoming federal Election. “This Federal Elec...
Insurance sector action plan welcomed – but consumer groups warn industry that ‘trust us’ doesn’t cut it
Consumer groups including the Financial Rights Legal Centre, Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Counselling Australia have welcomed the Insurance Council of Australia’s (ICAs) Industry Action Pl...
Victorian Default Offer could do more in cost-of-living crisis and beyond
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed today’s draft decision from the Essential Services Commission (ESC) on the Victorian Default Offer for 2025-26 but calls on the Commission and Energy Retailers...
REPORT: Payday lenders pushing borrowers over the edge
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has today released a report revealing what consumer advocates have been saying for months – predatory lenders are pushing customers in vulner...
Consumer Action: ‘Strengthened anti-scam laws will help future victims’
Assistant Treasurer, Stephen Jones has announced strengthened pathways for victims to seek compensation where wrongdoing has occurred. A Ministerial Direction announced yesterday, will empower the Aus...
Reported scams down but two-billion dollars in losses still ‘deeply concerning’
Consumer Action Law Centre says a report released today from the National Anti-Scam Centre, Targeting scams, reveals a welcome fall in the value of reported scams losses for 2024 (down by 25.9% to $2....
Telco regulator cannot register out of touch industry code say consumer advocates
The Fair Call Coalition* of consumer advocates has written to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) urging the Regulator to refuse to register the Telecommunications Consumer Protec...
Hard fought protections in new Banking Code better for consumers
The new Banking Code of Practice came into force on Friday the culmination of years of work to strengthen consumer protections said Stephanie Tonkin, CEO Consumer Action Law Centre. The Hayne Roy...
Scams laws passing a relief, but victims to face an uphill battle for redress
Consumer advocates say the passing of the Scams Prevention Framework (SPF) fills a gaping hole in the law and in time should protect many Australians from falling victim to the scourge of scams. But t...
Straightforward compensation would put victims at the heart of the new Scams Bill
Consumer organisations fighting to ensure Australians are protected under the Scams Prevention Framework Bill will provide evidence today at a crucial Senate Economics Legislation Committee hearing....
Strong action bringing telcos to account is the way to go
Consumer Action Law Centre has warmly welcomed today’s announcement from Communications Minister Michelle Rowland further strengthening consumer protections and increasing the Australian Communication...
ASIC sues HSBC Bank for failure to protect customers from scams
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has taken strong enforcement action, announcing today that it is suing HSBC Bank for its ‘widespread failures to act honestly, efficiently an...
Consumer advocates welcome proposed reforms to Government payment service
The Financial Rights Legal Centre, Mob Strong Debt Help, and Consumer Action Law Centre welcome the proposed reforms to Centrepay announced by Minister Bill Shorten this morning. These reforms include...
Consumer groups welcome passing of buy now, pay later regulations
Key loophole in credit laws will be closed Consumer groups have welcomed the passing of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (BNPL Bill) through...
Major overhaul of Building Regulator good news for Victoria’s consumers
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the Victorian Government's announcement today of a major overhaul of the Victorian Building and Plumbing Regulator's enforcement powers and structure, and domes...
Flood Inquiry Report provides clear roadmap to lift insurer standards
Consumer groups have welcomed the release of the Final Report of the Standing Committee on Economics’ Inquiry into Insurer’s responses to 2022 Major Floods. The groups have called on the insurance...
Stronger consumer protections needed to make our marketplace fairer
The two major consumer protections announced today -the ban on unfair trading and consultation on penalties for breaches by traders and service providers of the consumer guarantees under the Australia...
Stronger telco protections targeting those experiencing domestic and family violence real progress
Consumer Action Law Centre Acting Director of Policy and Campaigns Luke Lovell said the new protections for telco customers experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV) announced today by Minister...
Government’s Scams Prevention Framework only goes halfway – we need a presumption of reimbursement say consumer advocates
A broad coalition of consumer advocates is calling for the Albanese Government to make one fundamental change to the proposed Scams Prevention Framework (SPF) and put reimbursement at its core, warnin...
