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...
Government-led Senate Committee backs strengthening consumer protections for predatory payday loans and high-cost leases
A Senate Committee has handed down its final report on proposed reforms to payday loans and consumer leases in the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Small Amount Credit Contract and Consu...
Consumer groups welcome South Australian crackdown on predatory lenders
Consumer groups have applauded the South Australian government’s plans to crackdown on payday lenders and consumer lease providers. The government’s proposed laws would introduce important consumer pr...
Australian Competition Tribunal decision: A missed opportunity to improve solar sales practices
The Australian Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal) has handed down its decision today on the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (the Code), the proposed industry code for new energy technology such as sola...
Extension of bankruptcy threshold protections should be made permanent
Consumer groups have welcomed the Government’s extension of bankruptcy threshold protections until the end of the year because of the COVID emergency and are calling for the changes to be made permane...
Standing up against systemic racism
Consumer Action Law Centre stands in solidarity with all those protesting systemic racism over recent months. Our colleagues at Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) have issued a statement reg...
Report misses the mark on buy now pay later regulation
The Senate Select Committee on Financial Technology and Regulatory Technology has published its Interim Report. Consumer groups say the Interim Report has missed the mark on its recommendation encoura...
$28 million of junk add-on insurance claims and counting… ASIC must act now to fix junk insurance
Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Rights Legal Centre and WEstjustice have made a submission to the corporate regulator urging a crackdown on junk insurance sales in car yards. The submission c...
Consumer groups welcome NAB crackdown on debt vultures
Consumer groups have welcomed a crackdown on debt vultures by National Australia Bank (NAB). In a statement today, NAB says it will no longer deal with unlicensed debt management providers. Cons...
Responsible lending law reform needed urgently
Consumer groups are extremely disappointed in ASIC’s decision not to appeal the Full Federal Court’s decision in the Westpac case to the High Court of Australia.[1] The Financial Rights Legal Centr...
Regulator proposes to stop the latest predatory lending model involving Cigno
The corporate regulator is proposing to again use its product intervention power (PIP) in relation to Cigno and BHF Solutions. Consumer Action Law Centre supports the move, saying there is a desperate...
Banks Announcement of Further Assistance for Customers a Timely Relief
Today’s announcement by the banking industry of further assistance to help customers experiencing financial hardship will provide some important relief to those who continue to be impacted by COVID-19...
Regulator reveals telcos failing to do proper credit checks
The telco regulator has released worrying findings from its mystery shopping study into companies' credit assessments today. The study released today by the Australian Communications and Media Aut...
Consumer groups: Federal insurance pricing monitor a ‘national priority’ ahead of next bushfire season as NSW office closes
The closure of the NSW insurance pricing monitor today leaves a gap in consumer protection that should be filled by an independent national body says a coalition of consumer groups. The NSW Emergen...
Consumer Action asks Tribunal to stop ‘buy now pay later’ solar rip offs
Today the Australian Competition Tribunal will commence hearing arguments on the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (the Code), the proposed industry code for new energy technology such as solar panel sale...
Overwhelmed by bills or struggling financially as a result of COVID-19?
There are things you can do!
COVID-19 means this year we are staying at home now more than ever. As a result, your bills might be a lot higher than they were. As we enter the winter months, keeping warm and safe is more impo...
$3.7 million package announced for Victorians struggling with energy bills
Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody says that the Victorian Government’s $3.7 million package for people having difficulty paying their energy bills is a well-timed funding boost as we head in...
Government reaffirms commitment to implement Banking Royal Commission reforms in full
Today the Government announced a six-month deferral to the implementation of commitments associated with the Banking Royal Commission. Under the updated timetable, measures previously scheduled for...
Hayne Royal Commission insurance reforms should be introduced into Parliament in next sitting
A coalition of consumer advocacy groups is calling on the Federal Government to urgently implement much-needed reforms to the insurance industry as recommended by the Royal Commission into Misconduct...
Over 1,000 requests to disconnect Victorians for not paying their electricity bills during Covid-19 health crisis
The latest figures from the Essential Services Commission (ESC) reveal that more than 1,000 requests have been made to disconnect Victorians from electricity for not paying their bills since late Marc...
Consumer group tells Bushfire Royal Commission that climate change is creating a perfect storm for insurance affordability
Consumer Action has warned that climate change is expected to make insurance unaffordable for many as extreme weather events hit Australia as part of its submission to the Bushfire Royal Commission re...
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...
Predatory lender Cigno has case thrown out by Federal Court
Today the Federal Court has dismissed an application by predatory lender Cigno to overturn the financial regulator’s ban on its exploitative lending model.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) took swift action in September 2019 using its new product intervention powers to shut down the high cost lending model, which was causing wi...
No impact on credit files during COVID-19 pandemic a welcome announcement by banks
Consumer groups welcome the announcement by the Australian Banking Association that bank customers applying for payment deferrals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will not have a missed payment or...
