Policy
Engaged in multiple sectors, our team conducts rigorous consumer and policy research to uncover market failures and consumer harm. We actively collaborate with partners, leveraging national and international perspectives to identify and understand issues within markets. By openly sharing insights, we contribute to the creation of impactful policy solutions, fostering momentum for positive change and advocating for consumer welfare.
October 11, 2024
While the first tranche of privacy reforms is an important initial step with some key positive developments,Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC)urges the Federal Government to urgently commit to a clear timeline to close crucial gaps in Australia's privacy protections.
October 4, 2024
The proposed mandatory guardrails and the proposal to introduce an AI Act are steps in the right direction. However, reforms to consumer and privacy laws are needed to create a fair and safe digital ecosystem for Australians.The Federal Government needs to prioritise the following economy-wide reforms to prevent harms from AI
June 7, 2024
Australia has a major gap in its consumer law compared to the EU – in Australia there is no ban on unfair business practices.1 The EU has had a ban on unfair practices since 2005, allowing it to stop instances where companies treat customers unfairly, beyond misleading or lying to them.
November 5, 2020
This response outlines our key concerns regarding consequences of the proposed Rules changes and offers specific suggestions where different approaches may produce better results for consumers.
October 21, 2020
The consultation proposes amendments that shift sectoral assessment and rulemaking functions away from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and into the Treasury.
August 28, 2020
Throughout the submission we highlight areas of the CDR in energy Rules that need to be geared toward building consumer trust in data access processes and protections.
May 24, 2020
Our key message in responding to the Inquiry’s March 2020 Issues Paper is to emphasise that future directions for the CDR must continue to be envisaged as for the consumer, about the consumer, and seen from the consumer’s perspective.
May 22, 2019
A modern and integrated data policy framework would provide a better base from which to consider the optimal set of CDR rules for the banking sector.
February 27, 2019
CPRC continued to highlight the benefit and need for the implementation of an economy-wide data protection and management framework in Australia alongside the introduction of the CDR.
October 12, 2018
CPRC holds the view that the CDR should be renamed to the Data Portability/Transfer Right to more accurately reflect its functions; There is a signficant need for a whole-of-government approach to economy-wide data protection reform to address the risk of CDR data leakage outside the system; CDR data should be prevented from transfers to non-accredited third parties in the absence of reform to economy-wide data protection; Privacy by Design be embedded in the legislation by ensuring redundant data is deleted by default; Consumers should be provided with their CDR information for free without restrictions; Consumers should have access to profiling information/categories/scores observed or generated relating to them, and not limited to just accessing information that we observed or provided by the person; and, Legislating CDR participants to participate in a centralised dashboard would greatly assist consumers in managing their consent and data portability over time and especially as new sectors are brought into the CDR system.
