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.
December 19, 2024
Unfair business practices cost people time, money and wellbeing, and erode trust in markets. While the existing legislative framework addresses some extreme forms of exploitation, it remains insufficient to counter the nuanced and systemic nature of unfair practices, particularly in the digital age.
November 8, 2024
This submission supports the insights and recommendations made by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE). Implementing FARE’s recommendations will ensure that the Code is fit for purpose and genuinely delivers on its intention to “broadcast content of commercial free-to-air television according to current community standards.
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 10, 2024
The regulatory settings for financial markets should be designed to help Australians to finance a purchase of a property that they can afford, and to ensure as many people as possible can maintain that property in times of hardship or stress. This submission combines the insights of consumer organisations with the cases we see from our work helping people in financial stress.
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
July 10, 2024
Every person deserves to live in a healthy, comfortable and affordable home. For people who rent, ensuring their home is energy efficient and of a liveable standard is not always in their control.
April 17, 2024
Search is a service that connects consumers with information and, frequently, is a starting point for engaging with businesses or services. Accuracy matters yet increasingly people are presented with the most profitable answer for search services rather than the information they need.
March 20, 2024
In this submission we discuss how elements of AANA’s commendable green code could be strengthened. The key issues we focus on include the need for consumers to have meaningful information to be able to make direct comparisons about the products and services being advertised to them, through setting specific expectations of advertisers with respect to communicating supporting evidence to consumers. We outline extensive problems with trustmarks and self-certification schemes, the influence of imagery, and vague and obscure language in advertising featuring green claims.
March 28, 2024
Each year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collects data from more than 20,000 Australians in relation to their experiences of different types of fraud, including scams.
January 15, 2024
Many Australian consumers want to make purchases that support good environmental outcomes. However, it can be far too hard to identify what businesses are taking genuine environmental action. The Climate Active program can help organisations understand and reduce their carbon emissions, but it also plays an important role in providing information to consumers.
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