The ACCC has conducted an investigation into quad bike safety, including considering the merits of implementing a safety standard for quad bikes under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
The ACCC has made a recommendation to the Assistant Treasurer to make a mandatory safety standard. A copy of the report and the draft mandatory standard are available below.
The Assistant Treasurer is seeking submissions on the exposure draft mandatory safety standard recommended by the ACCC.
...More
The Competition and Consumer (Industry Code—Electricity Retail) Regulations 2019 (the Code) will come into force on 1 July 2019. The Code, as a mandatory industry code under Part IVB of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, is binding on all retailers that supply electricity to small customers in the applicable distribution regions of New South Wales, South Australia and south-east Queensland. It sets a price cap on standing offers and specifies how prices and discounts must be advertised,...More
The ACCC has published draft rules for the Consumer Data Right (CDR) in the banking sector. The ACCC is seeking feedback from consumers, businesses and community organisations on the approach and positions of the draft rules, including the privacy aspects.
The CDR is a competition and consumer reform announced by the Australian Government in May 2018 which will allow consumers to require a company such as their bank to share their data with another accredited service provider such as a...More
The ACCC is seeking to better understand the number of stakeholders interested in being accredited under the Consumer Data Right (CDR) regime, including intended timing. This information will assist us in planning the implementation of CDR in the banking sector.
If you are likely to seek to become an accredited data recipient, or are an authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI) who will be a data holder, we are interested to hear from you.
We will conduct a pilot program prior to...More
The ACCC is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders on the proposed models for consumers to access their data in the energy market. Your views will help us form a position on the preferred data access model for the application of the consumer data right (CDR) in energy .
The consultation paper sets out three options for the energy data access model, and our views on relevant principles and considerations for the assessment of these options.
The CDR is a competition and...More
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) invites you to have your say on the issues and policy options in the consultation paper on the review of the safety standard for corded internal window coverings (CIWC) - located below the survey and titled ' Consultation - Corded Internal Window Coverings Feb 2019.pdf '. The issues in this paper have been briefly summarised below, please refer to the document for further details.
The ACCC prefers submissions to be provided via...More
The ACCC is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders on the proposed models for consumers to access their data in the energy market. Your views will help us form a position on the preferred data access model for the application of the consumer data right (CDR) in energy .
The consultation paper sets out three options for the energy data access model, and our views on relevant principles and considerations for the assessment of these options.
The CDR is a competition and...More
The ACCC will be hosting two key consumer events in Melbourne – the annual Ruby Hutchison Memorial Lecture (co-hosted with CHOICE) and the National Consumer Congress.
Ruby Hutchison Memorial Lecture
Wednesday 13 March 2019
RACV Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne
6:00 pm–8:30 pm
This event honours Ruby Hutchison, the founder of the Australian Consumers’ Association, the organisation we now know as CHOICE.
The speaker for the Ruby Hutchison lecture is yet to be...More
The National Indigenous Consumer Strategy (NICS) reference group is seeking to better understand consumer protection issues affecting Indigenous people in Australia. The survey covers key priority areas of the 2017–2019 NICS action plan:
Trading practices
Scam practices
Housing
Consumer directed care
Motor vehicles
Financial services.
About NICS
NICS is a strategy developed by all Australian States and Territories which, together with New Zealand,...More
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued an initial assessment of a certification trade mark (CTM) application lodged by Tobacco Free Portfolios Limited (CTM 1845132). There are three variations of the mark, illustrated below.
The ACCC’s initial assessment is that it proposes to approve the CTM application. A copy of the ACCC’s initial assessment statement of reasons is attached below.
A CTM is a sign used, or intended to be used to distinguish...More
Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) seeks your views on draft guidance on the concepts of ‘durability’ and ‘unsafe’ under the consumer guarantees provisions of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). CAANZ is Australia’s principal national forum for government policy, enforcement cooperation and coordination in respect of consumer affairs. It is composed of senior officers of Commonwealth, state, territory and New Zealand government agencies responsible for consumer...More
For the reasons set out in the attached final assessment statement of reasons, the ACCC has issued a final assessment approving certification trade mark application No. 1852562 lodged by OxoPak Pty Ltd (illustrated below).
Consultation
As part of the ACCC's assessment of the CTM, we invited interested party submissions in May 2018, November 2018 and in April 2019. A copy of submissions received from interested parties are attached.
ACCC role
Under Part 16 of the...More
On 12 December 2018, the ACCC commenced a public inquiry into making final access determinations (FAD) for Telstra’s six fixed line services and for wholesale ADSL.
The purpose of this consultation is to seek early submissions from industry participants, other stakeholders and the public more generally on a range of range of issues concerning the next FADs, including the prices for the services and non-price terms and conditions of access.
More information about the types of...More
As part of the Australian Energy Regulator’s transformation program announced in July 2018, we are reviewing a number of the AER’s ways of working. This includes a review of the Quarterly Compliance Report: National Electricity and Gas Laws (QCR). This short survey seeks your views on the QCR and will inform how we report on wholesale electricity and gas market compliance issues into the future. Your response will be treated as confidential and any results, if published, will be...More
The ACCC has published its Report on effectiveness of broadband speed claims guidance and consultation on further enhancement (attached below) which assesses the effectiveness of its Broadband Speed Claims - industry guidance and seeks input on updating it.
The ACCC released the guidance in August 2017 to outline good practices for retail service providers (RSPs) to adopt in presenting the speeds of their broadband plans. At that time, the ACCC committed to reviewing the guidance and...More
The ACCC released a discussion paper on 21 November 2018 seeking feedback on:
the analytical framework for monitoring, including the expectations of market outcomes and participant behaviour
the measures we use to monitor
monitoring the impact of policy developments
the process and timing for the collection of information.
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On 19 November 2018, the ACCC released a public consultation and position paper for the Digital Radio access undertakings.
The purpose of this consultation is to seek submissions from industry participants, other stakeholders and the public more generally on a range of questions relevant to the three new access undertakings received in relation to the commencement of Digital Radio services in Canberra, Darwin and Hobart.
More information, including the access undertakings...More
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) invites you to have your say on the issues and policy options in the consultation paper on the review of the permanent ban on miniature motorbikes (monkey bikes) with unsafe design features. The issues in this paper have been briefly summarised below, please refer to the document for further details.
The ACCC prefers submissions to be provided via the ACCC consultation hub.
Alternatively, interested parties can email...More
The ACCC is seeking comments and submissions from interested stakeholders on the draft ACCC Guidelines to assist the Copyright Tribunal in the determination of copyright remuneration (Copyright Guidelines).
The ACCC has a role under the Copyright Act 1968 (Copyright Act).
In proceedings concerning voluntary licences and licence schemes, the Copyright Tribunal of Australia must, if requested by a party to the proceedings, consider relevant guidelines (if any) made by the ACCC, per...More
The ACCC invites you to have your say on the issues in the consultation paper on the inclusion of an explanatory note in the mandatory standard for prams and strollers. The issues in this paper have been briefly summarised below, please refer to the document for further details.
The ACCC prefers submissions to be provided via the ACCC consultation hub.
Submissions can also be made via post to:
Director
Standards & Policy
Consumer Product Safety Branch
Australian...More
The ACCC's Compliance and enforcement policy & priorities and Product safety priorities set out our priority areas and list the primary factors we will take into account when deciding to pursue issues or matters.
Feedback from businesses and consumers is highly valuable to us for drafting these policies and past feedback has had a direct impact on our priority areas.
We are seeking your views on our current priority areas and ask you to identify new issues that might be causing...More
Sending money overseas and buying foreign cash is a focus of our inquiry into foreign currency conversion services.
If you have exchanged money, loaded a travel card, purchased products or services from overseas, or sent money overseas, we want to hear from you.
All questions in this brief questionnaire are optional. You can tell us anything that you think might be important.
For more information, you can also read the issues paper attached below.
Confidentiality
...More
The ACCC is seeking feedback from interested parties on Telstra’s proposed variations to the Migration Plan.
On 10 September 2018, Telstra submitted proposed variations to the Migration Plan to the ACCC incorporating:
amendments to Telstra’s obligations relating to HFC Services together with a number of other proposed changes to the Migration Plan relating to fire alarm and lift phone services and In-Train Order (ITO) arrangements, which Telstra has previously received...More
On 31 August 2018, the ACCC released a public consultation and position paper for the fixed line telecommunications services declaration inquiry. The purpose of this consultation is to seek submissions from industry participants, other stakeholders and the public more generally on a range of questions relating to the declaration of the six fixed line services, which expire on 31 July 2019.
The consultation and position paper is attached below. More information, including the applicable...More
The ACCC is seeking feedback from consumers, businesses and community organisations on the approach and positions the ACCC proposes to take in establishing rules for the Consumer Data Right (CDR).
The CDR is a competition and consumer reform announced by the Australian Government in May 2018 which will allow consumers to require a company such as their bank to share their data with another accredited service provider such as a comparison site in order to get more tailored, competitive...More
On 9 August 2018, the ACCC released a public consultation paper, draft Internet Activity Record Keeping Rule (RKR) document and templates as part of a consultation process for its proposed Internet Activity RKR. The purpose of this consultation is to seek submissions from a range of stakeholders, including industry and data users, on the ACCC’s proposed Internet Activity RKR.
While this consultation is now closed, the consultation paper and submissions received in response to this...More
Wine grape growers and industry associations have raised concerns with the ACCC through forums, consultations and correspondence about potential competition and fair trading issues in the wine grape industry.
The ACCC is conducting an anonymous survey of wine grape growers across Australia to help us better understand:
how widespread the concerns and potential issues are
whether the concerns and potential issues are more prevalent in particular regions
the effect of...More
The journalists forum will take place in Sydney on Wednesday 15 August from
6–8pm at the Aerial UTS Function Centre, UTS Building 10, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, Ultimo .
Journalists who are unable to attend the forum in person can still share their views and experiences about the impact digital platforms are having on journalism in Australia.
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We are seeking feedback from subscribers of the ACCC's Franchising Information Network. This free email subscription service provides our readers with updates on the latest news and events relevant to the franchising sector, including useful tools and online resources.
Please complete this short survey to share your views and help us ensure our email updates meet the interests of our subscribers.
The survey is anonymous unless your email address is provided.
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We are seeking feedback from subscribers of the ACCC's Small Business Information Network. This free email subscription service provides our readers with updates on the latest news and events relevant to the small business sector, including useful tools and online resources which are designed to help small business.
Please complete this short survey to share your views and help us ensure our email updates meet the interests of small business audiences.
The survey is anonymous unless...More