2020

CHOICE’s response to the Privacy Act Review: Issues Paper focuses on matters most relevant to the interactions between people in their role as consumers and businesses that hold and use their data. CHOICE is supportive of measures to improve how privacy complaints operate including a direct right of action.

The government is proposing to axe safe lending laws during Australia’s first recession in three decades, which will be disastrous for the economy and will hurt people. It will tilt the balance of power firmly towards Australia’s major banks and lenders.

CHOICE supports the continued operation of the Measuring Broadband Australia (MBA) program past the completion of phase one of the NBN rollout. CHOICE considers there to be at least three potential areas that could have large-scale impacts on the Australian broadband industry: FTTP upgrades, 5G connectivity and increase in usage of data.

CHOICE supports the continuation of the country of origin labelling framework but asserts that the framework should be strengthened by having key ingredients sourced or grown overseas displayed in country of origin labels.

CHOICE lodged a complaint to the ACCC about Tinder’s use of customer data to engage in discriminatory pricing practices.

CHOICE asked the Therapeutic Goods Administration and ACCC to investigate potentially misleading advertising claims made by companies about the protection offered by quaternary ammonium compound-based hand sanitisers.

CHOICE urges Forum Ministers, FSANZ and the Front-of-Pack Labelling Secretariat to roll out the strongest possible Health Star Rating system using Calculator 2 without further delay.

CHOICE led a joint consumer submission with CCLSWA, FCA and ICAN asserting that all Australians should have access to reasonable and fair prices for essential goods and that communities in regional and remote areas should not be disadvantaged simply because of their geographical location.

CHOICE’s submission focuses on three key areas of the Consumer Data Right (CDR): potential areas of expansion, accessibility and consumer protection. A national product safety database, country-wide complaints register, and the insurance and automotive industries would all benefit from the application of open data.

CHOICE supports a mandatory standard for button batteries that requires a secure battery compartment, child-resistant packaging and warning and safety information requirements, including exemptions for hearing aid devices and associated zinc air batteries.

CHOICE lodged a complaint to the ACCC about Mosaic Brands Pty Ltd engaging in misleading and deceptive advertising during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

CHOICE is urging the Australian government to make unfair contract terms illegal, and to attach appropriate penalties to businesses that breach the law.

CHOICE’s submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Economics outlining the need for action on payday loans and consumer leases.

The Information Standard sets out disclosure requirements for electronic ticket resale services. CHOICE would like the Information Standard to extend to advertising and promotion of ticket resale sites.

CHOICE led a joint consumer submission calling on the government to introduce a Financial Accountability Regime that will hold finance executives to account.

Consumer Action Law Centre led a joint submission alongside CHOICE and other consumer groups calling on the government to establish a well-funded compensation scheme of last resort.

Throughout February 2020, CHOICE issued a raft of joint submissions alongside Australian consumer groups to Treasury, commenting on the exposure draft legislation relating to insurance, financial services and superannuation. The submissions aim to improve outcomes for consumers across the financial sector.

CHOICE’s submission on the AEMC’s draft National Energy Retail Amendment and the regulation of conditional discounts for electricity in Australia.

CHOICE has an interest in how changes to the national corporate criminal responsibility regime affect consumers, and supports proposals around the inclusion of victim impact statements, improved compensation and illegal phoenixing.