Consumers SA

CONSUMERS SA (CSA) established in 1977, represents the interests of South Australian consumers and receives national recognition through membership of the Consumers' Federation of Australia. CSA works to represent the interests of all South Australian consumers both locally and nationally.

Membership Application/Renewal Form 2011 – 2012

I/We wish to apply for/renew my/our membership of Consumers’ Association of SA for the financial year 2011/12 and enclose my/our cheque accordingly for the rate as stated.

At the Execitve Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 13th December 2011, members unanimously elected David Schomburgk as their President. He succeeds Graham Pratt, now Immediate Past President. Other positions are - Ian Butterworth Vice President, Anthony Moore Secretary and John Furbank as Treasurer.

Consumers have been let down by Government who have largely disregarded consumer concerns regarding food labelling, Consumers S.A. President, Mr Schomburgk said today.

‘The Blewett Review into food labelling’ made 61 recommendations most of which would have ensured better labelling information for consumers, particularly where new technologies entering the food market place are concerned.

Of the 61 recommendations, only 19 were agreed, with a further 23 agreed to ‘in principle’.

The global organisation representing consumer groups, Consumers International, is asking Australians to be part of their project aimed at holding internet service providers to account. You can help by taking part in the 10-minute online survey so we can see how Australia compares to the rest of the world for broadband services.
Further information: http://a2knetwork.org/broadband

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission received around 42,000 scam-related reports in 2010 compared to around 20,000 in 2009, according to a report released today to mark the start of Fraud Week 2011.

ACCC Deputy Chair Peter Kell said the report – Targeting Scams, the ACCC’s annual report on consumer fraud – revealed that scam activity remains a threat to Australian consumers and businesses

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/976288/fromItemId/142.

The Australian Institute of Criminology has released this paper on consumer fraud and scams in Australia.

http://www.aic.gov.au/en/publications/current%20series/tbp/41-60/tbp043....

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued interim access determinations (IADs) for fixed line telecommunications services under the new telecommunications access regime, which came into operation on 1 January 2011.
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/976058

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has released a discussion paper examining opportunities to reform the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) Scheme.
http://www.dbcde.gov.au/consultation_and_submissions/TIO_reforms
Submissions are due 31 March 2011.

As a result of consultation with members, ACCAN is proposing a number of deletions and modifications of provisions which create excessive opportunities for the provider to refuse a request for a standard telephone service and/or provisions which ACCAN contend are not properly relevant to the reasonableness of a request.

http://www.accan.org.au/policy_submissions.php

http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2011/03/02/3152230.htm

The entrance to the Svalbard seed vault, which aims to insure edible plant species against possible disaster. Credit: Mari Tefre (Wikimedia).