Consumer news - NewsLocker

CFA Welcomes Rosie Thomas as our new Executive Director

03-09-2026 23:49 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

As part of the Consumers’ Federation of Australia’s commitment to supporting a thriving consumer movement, we at CFA are pleased to announce that Rosie Thomas has joined CFA in the newly created role of Executive Director. Rosie was formerly Director of Campaigns and Communications at CHOICE, where she led national campaigns across a range of consumer markets – from sunscreen and supermarkets to airlines and energy – driving reform to protect consumers. Before that,

Quantum Technology in Action

06-08-2026 08:42 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

New CSIRO project Quantum timing technology has developed two portable quantum-enabled timing devices that have potential benefits for consumer infrastructure including communications networks, transport systems, power grids, and financial services. Designed to help maintain secure timing for critical systems when Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, including GPS, are disrupted. CSIRO said the project also contributes to Australia’s autonomous capabi

Consumer Advocacy Award 2026

31-07-2026 10:25 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

The 2026 ACCC National Consumer Congress has been held and with it, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia’s annual Consumer Advocacy Award. This year saw four projects and campaigns presented by CFA members from across the consumer advocacy sector, each of which saw substantial benefit to many consumers. The nominees this year were: 1. Stronger Voices, Better Care: Individual Health Advocacy Project Health Consumers’ Council WA (HCCWA) delivers Australia’s

Menstrual Hygiene – Safe consumer access

19-06-2026 01:53 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

Menstrual health hygiene includes the practices, facilities, and education to manage menstruation safely, privately, and with dignity. It encompasses proper body care, access to safe and affordable products, and the sanitation services required to manage the menstrual cycle comfortably. Menstruation (also called a “period”) is a normal biological process experienced by millions around the world each month. Menstrual hygiene healthy habits are important for your health

Plastic Free July

18-06-2026 06:53 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

Plastic Free July is an opportunity to pause, rethink everyday habits and get started with simple steps to reduce reliance on single use plastics. As global plastic production has increased dramatically since the mid-20th century, so too have the life cycle emissions of plastics. Climate change is actively reshaping how plastics behave in the environment, making them more mobile, persistent and harmful across ecosystems.Curious to know what people have done for Plastic F

National Volunteer Week 18-24 May 2026

13-05-2026 03:45 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

The theme for National Volunteer Week 2026 is ‘Your Year to Volunteer’. This theme not only honours the contributions of volunteers but also encourages people across Australia to make 2026 the year they get involved and make a difference. The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), highlighting the vital role of volunteers in advancing sustainability. Consumers Federation o

Have Your Say – Lighting for roads and public spaces

04-05-2026 07:25 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

Road and public space lighting schemes’ primary aim is the safe movement of people whether in motorised vehicles or as pedestrians. Lighting is critical to creating a public area that is safe and inviting for users and appropriate lighting can provide significant community benefits. Standards Australia has released a draft standard DR AS/NZS 1158.1.1:2026 Lighting for roads and public spaces, Part 1.1: Vehicular traffic (Category V) lighting – Performance and design re

Consumer Advocacy Award – 2026 Nominations Now Open!

22-04-2026 07:25 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

The Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Consumer Advocacy Award. This award recognises the best consumer advocacy campaign or project run by a CFA member organisation during the past year. If your organisation or group has delivered an outstanding campaign or project, we would love to hear from you! Selected nominees will be invited to showcase their campaign or project in a shor

Food Loss and Waste

08-04-2026 08:05 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

In Australia alone, more than seven million tonnes of food is wasted each year—a third of all food produced. Through Food Systems Horizons, The University of Queensland and CSIRO are using science to help Australians understand the food system, their roles in it, and who they need to work with to develop a more sustainable, nutritious and equitable food system. Clean-up Australia has advice about what you can do to combat food wastage in the home.Researchers at Australia’s

New Moneysmart Research Shows Gen Z Are Turning to Social Media and AI for Financial Advice

26-03-2026 06:59 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

ASIC is urging young Australians to ‘sense check’ the information they see online, as new research shows nearly two thirds of Gen Zs are using social media and about one in five are using AI to make decisions about their financial future.Moneysmart’s Gen Z study found that while Gen Z has a strong appetite for reputable and trustworthy financial content, many struggle to find it – and their search often leads them to sources designed for engagement rather than accuracy.Hi

People in financial distress urged to seek help as interest rates rise

20-03-2026 03:00 via Consumers' Federation of Australia

Today’s interest rate rise will add further pressure to Australians already struggling with housing costs and rising living expenses, with financial counsellors warning that more households may be pushed into financial distress.Demand for help is rising. In February there were?15,857 calls and online chats to the National Debt Helpline (NDH), the highest number recorded for the month of February since 2020. The figure represents a?9 per cent increase compared with

What to Look for When Buying a Gaming Keyboard

10-05-2022 08:45

So, you’ve finally put together your first gaming PC and are now looking to grab some peripherals. Or maybe your current keyboard is on its last legs, and your WASD keys just aren’t as responsive as they once were. In any case, grabbing a gaming keyboard might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are a few things you need to be aware of before buying one. Do you know the difference between a red and blue switch?Here’s what you need to know about picking up a gaming key

A Running List of All the Tech and Climate Election Promises From the Major Parties

10-05-2022 08:34

As we all know by now, the 2022 Australian Federal Election will be held on May 21. It’s now only 11 sleeps away and thanks to all the campaigning from current Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his opponent Anthony Albanese, we have a number of election policies already announced from each side.While there’s a number of initiatives promised from both the Albanese-led Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Morrison-led Coalition (Liberal and National parties), there’s also some ma

Marvel’s Black Bolt, Explained

10-05-2022 07:49

Before we get stuck in, obviously you should watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness if you want to avoid Marvel-adjacent spoilers. This is the only warning you’ll get.
Who the heck is Black Bolt? Well, he’s a hero that appears ever so briefly in Doctor Strange 2, along with a slew of other cameoing heroes.But of the heroes that were presented as part of the “Illuminati“, we didn’t really know who Black Bolt was. Sure, you might know if

Western Australia’s New Electric Vehicle Plan is Great, if You Ignore the Tax

10-05-2022 07:35

The government of Western Australian has announced a $60 million electric vehicle package, including rebates for EV buyers and an increase in charging stations across the state… But the WA government is also preparing to introduce a tax on electric vehicles.How do you want me to run through the “Clean Energy Car Fund”? Good news or bad news first? Let’s rip the bandaid off and go bad news first.From July 1, 2027, EV owners in Western Australia will be taxed a base rate o

The Espresso Display V2 Is a Great Monitor That’s Trying to Be a Tablet

10-05-2022 06:48

When I think about a PC monitor, I think about a big, heavy and awkward-to-carry piece of tech that stays rooted to the spot. Wherever my monitor is set-up, that’s where it stays and the room automatically becomes a study or “the computer room”. After hearing about Espresso’s range of portable monitors, my curiosity was tickled and I had to know more.I was given the Display Touch 15 from Espresso’s new V2 line-up of portable monitors. The Espresso display was invent

Use This Shortcut to Expel Water From Your iPhone

10-05-2022 06:27

Your iPhone is water-resistant, and its IP68 rating means it can survive a swim in up to six meters of water for as long as 30 minutes and things should still be fine. In theory. (This doesn’t mean you should use your phone as an underwater camera; if water does make its way inside, you’ll still face a huge repair bill or be stuck with a bricked phone.) But even if it will ultimately survive a drop into the drink, when you first fish it out, some moisture might still remain in the sp

Here’s How to Google-Fy Your iPhone, so You Can Bin the Apple Apps

10-05-2022 05:26

Maybe you’ve got yourself some Apple hardware, but you prefer Google’s apps and services, or maybe you just find Google a less scary Big Brother in your iPhone than Apple (though both companies should inspire concerns about privacy). To what extent can you live the Google life on your iPhone with Google apps?We’ll talk you through the steps you need to take here because there’s more to it than just installing the Gmail app and signing in with your Google credentials. But

How to Fix a PS4 That Won’t Read Discs

10-05-2022 04:23

The PS5 might be Sony’s shiny new console, but plenty of us are still happily playing our PS4s. That is, unless the system can’t read our discs. It’s a little more than frustrating when the PS4 refuses to play the $80 game you just popped in the disc drive. If you’re experiencing this issue, these tricks can help.First, though: I buy almost all my games digitally, so I’ve never encountered this issue on my PS4. Instead, the problem came to my attention from this Red

This Week’s Best eBay Deals, Including up to $500 off Select Microsoft Surface 3 Laptops

10-05-2022 03:30

When it comes time to purchase a new laptop or accessory, it can be tough to navigate hundreds of deals in order to find the one that will give you the most bang for your buck. Over at eBay Australia, they have plenty of PC deals to explore, from gaming PCs to wireless mesh routers that will allow you to mix business with pleasure.The best deal you can find at the moment is 20% off on eligible Microsoft products. You can score a solid discount on laptops, monitors and accessories by using t

All of the Sci-Fi, Adventure and Horror Movies Hitting Cinemas This Year in Australia

10-05-2022 03:29

After nearly two years of massive change for the global entertainment industry, we’re finally entering a period of relative stability. Numerous delays have seen movies pushed back again and again, but now that vaccine levels are high, and countries are starting to emerge from the COVID-induced fog, we finally have a clear view of the 2022 Australian movie release schedule.Over the last few months, many of the films that were scheduled for the back end of 2021 (some even from 2020) have bee

Kendrick Lamar Resurrects Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle as Deepfakes for His Music Video

10-05-2022 03:11

Kung Fu Kenny is coming back this year with a hot new album (Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers), but in the lead-up to that album’s release, we’ve been gifted a fresh new Kendrick Lamar beat — The Heart Part 5, featuring a slew of deepfakes.Yep, deepfakes.Kendrick loves to get creative with his work, with it not being a surprise to call him one of the greatest rappers in the game at the moment. Hell, his album Damn was the first non-jazz and non-classical album t

Why You Should Do a Factory Reset on All Your Older Tech

10-05-2022 02:07

Think about the tech in your life. Your phone, full of messages and photos; your computer, a perfectly balanced chaos of work and entertainment; your game console, with half-played games maxing out the internal storage. Your tech is well-used, and that’s a good thing. Now, delete it. Nuke your hard drives. Reset all of your tech to factory settings. Embrace the erase.No, I haven’t lost my mind. I’m not advocating for burning up your digital photos, or erasing all of your treasu

Scare Yourself Silly With These 5 TV Shows and Movies Streaming This Month on Shudder

10-05-2022 01:41

There’s a tonne of scary content streaming on Shudder in Australia this month, but we’ve narrowed it down to just five recommendations.Here’s what the team at Gizmodo Australia will be streaming on Shudder this month.Blair Witch (2016)First up on Gizmodo Australia’s recommendations for what’s streaming this month on Shudder is of course the 2016 Blair Witch. Blair Witch (also known as Blair Witch 3) is a found footage supernatural horror film directed by Adam Wingar

Here’s What We’re Expecting From Google I/O, and How You Can Tune In From Australia

10-05-2022 00:38

Thursday morning Google will hold its I/O developer conference, and in true being-over-the-other-side-of-the-world fashion, it’s a little early for us. 3 am to be exact.By the time you wake up, we’ll have news on what was announced, and bookmark this page, because we’ll update it with a summary of everything Google announced while you were sleeping.What is Google I/O?Google I/O is the search giant’s developer-focused conference. It’s where Google teases what it&rsqu

You Can Design Your Own ‘Official’ Emoji

09-05-2022 08:55

Have you ever been in the middle of composing a text message and scrolled through the emoji selection only to find that the one you need to express your emotion or situation seemingly doesn’t exist? If so — or if you simply have a great idea for a new emoji — now’s your chance: Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit organisation in charge of indexing emoji, is currently open to submissions.Here’s how to send in your own design or idea, and what the application entails.Ho

Sweet Streams Are Made Of These 6 Webcams

09-05-2022 08:45

If you’ve finally reached your limits with your laptop’s fuzzy built-in camera or you’re looking to take the leap into live-streaming, then it’s high time you bought yourself an external webcam.Whether you’re adding it to your home office setup or need something to capture video while on Twitch, an external webcam can instantly give you a boost in video quality that’ll make you appear more professional, no matter what you’re doing.Here are a few of our p

The Planets Are Aligning for Doctor Who in 2023

09-05-2022 08:27

Last night, the new Doctor Who was cast: Ncuti Gatwa.Who? The Doctor, silly.He’s a massively talented actor who has won awards and is known mostly for his work on Netflix’s Sex Education. Now, he’s on to play one of the most prestigious roles in British showbiz, up there with James Bond. He’s also taking the mantle as the first black Doctor, taking over from the first woman Doctor, Jodie Whittaker.And while I always get giddy and excited for a new Doctor being cast,

This Aussie Smartphone for Seniors Aims to Make Video Calls With Nan a Little Less Painful

09-05-2022 07:47

An Australian company has launched a new smartphone made for seniors, called the BigPurplePhone.The BigPurplePhone is specifically designed for older people struggling with technology, and its creators (James and Libby Henderson) say it’s simple enough to be used by dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers.The Hendersons say BigPurplePhone was the result of being separated from their parents during COVID-19 lockdowns. Libby’s 85-year-old mother Janette couldn’t quite navigate v

Optus’ 4G NBN Alternative Now Has Unlimited Data (And Your First Month Free)

09-05-2022 07:27

Optus has refreshed its 4G home internet plans, giving them unlimited data. The plans previously maxed out at 500GB, so an unlimited allowance could be helpful for more demanding users looking to replace a subpar NBN connection.The unlimited data allowance comes with a trade-off, however: Optus’ 4G home internet plans now have their download speeds capped to 25Mbps. That makes it similar to an NBN 25 plan, and a good option for one or two people households.Optus’s 4G home wireless pl

Well, the Motorola Razr 3 Leak Sure Looks Like the Flip Phone Is Back

09-05-2022 07:01

Good news, Motorola fans. The Motorola Razr 3 has supposedly leaked online.By way of 91 Mobiles with the snaps, a photo of the Motorola Razr 3 has been shot and posted online.The device has been codenamed Maven and is expected to release sometime this Winter. Of course, we don’t know about local availability just yet.Here’s what the phone looks like.Image: 91mobilesOf course, take these pics with a grain of salt. While this very much could be the same phone that we see launched later

The NSW Government Wants to Roll Out a Bunch of EV Chargers in Wine Country

09-05-2022 06:31

Gosh, electric car chargers have been in the news a bit recently, haven’t they?The NSW government has announced a plan to roll out 3,500 EV chargers across regional tourism locations in the state, such as at wineries, cafes, motels, natural attractions, zoos and museums.The news comes just a week after Labor announced a huge push for a nationwide EV network rollout, with a charging station built every 150 kilometres across major highways.That news, mind you, came three months after the NSW

Why Not Invest in a Smart Mug if You’re a Slow Sipper When It Comes to Your Morning Coffee

09-05-2022 06:12

Are you the type of person who has a bad habit of pouring yourself a steaming cup of tea or coffee, then putting it down and forgetting it ever existed? If yes, you might want to consider investing in a temperature control smart mug.If you’re a slow sipper, you know all too well what it feels like to return to that cup of joe you made an hour ago and cringe as the cold, bitter taste of coffee sloshes around in your mouth.We get it. Between figuring out what to wear, checking all of your no

Here’s Your Closest EV Charging Station, so You’ll Never Run Into Range Rage Ever

09-05-2022 04:29

There are hundreds of electric car charging stations across Australia, with several different charging port styles. But, a lot of those aren’t exactly compatible with your car, as an established standard hasn’t come in (but it REALLY should).You might be thinking about where you can get a charge in Australia – especially if you’re planning a getaway.Have no fear, because we’re here to let you know about every electric car charging location in Australia, state by sta

Ask Giz: How Does My Cat Know to Use its Litter Box?

09-05-2022 04:01

It’s time for another Ask Giz, where we answer your reader-submitted questions from all around the Giz-sphere, be it tech, science, health or gaming-related.Which reminds me: if you’ve got a burning question that you’d like us to answer, please submit it! You can send through your question here.Today’s question comes from Sarah in Canberra. Sarah wants to know: Why does my cat just know to pee on litter?Great question, Sarah! We at Gizmodo Australia are massive cat fans,

In Some Truly Shit News, Poo Transplants Could Reverse the Signs of Ageing

09-05-2022 02:45

I’m just going to cut straight to the chase – researchers have said poo transplants could reverse the hallmarks of ageing.In something straight out of a South Park episode, scientists at the Quadram Institute and the University of East Anglia have said poo transplants can reverse the hallmarks of ageing. They made such a claim after performing the faecal transplant in mice.They said: “Transplanting faecal microbiota from young into old mice can reverse hallmarks of ageing in th

The 10 Best Star Wars Games Ever Made

09-05-2022 01:14

Looking online it seems there have been approximately 64,534 Star Wars games released since the first film hit theatres in the ‘70s. (Editor’s note: That’s incorrect.) But, while many of them are good, some are really, really good. These are the kind of games that are so great that even non-Star Wars fans can’t deny how excellent they are.For this list, we didn’t set any restrictions. New games, old games, PC games, console games, handheld games, remakes, ports, and

Facebook Accused of Deliberately Blocking Emergency Services That Time It Pulled News From Australia

09-05-2022 01:02

Remember last year when news services were removed from Facebook? Remember how that also saw pages belonging to the likes of hospitals and charities no longer available on the social media site? Well, turns out Facebook, now Meta, knew exactly what it was doing when it blocked emergency services pages.In an article originally posted by The Wall Street Journal, it was revealed Facebook deliberately caused havoc in Australia by removing the pages of emergency services. The WSJ says such admission

Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT Fans Lose Millions Trying To Buy Video Game ‘Land’

09-05-2022 00:36

Something bad was happening over in the Bored Ape Yacht Club, the year-old NFT collection owned by blockchain tech firm Yuga Labs. Bad things seem to happen almost daily in the NFT sphere and the cryptocurrency community at large, which are both unfortunately frequent targets of multimillion-dollar hacking initiatives and equally expensive scammy hijinks. Yuga Labs most recently contributed to the blood in the water with its Otherdeed for Otherside collection, an NFT-related gaming initiative wh

Please Enjoy My Mosaic Disaster in Melbourne’s New LEGO Store

09-05-2022 00:13

Victorian LEGO fans have been forced to visit the distant lands of Chadstone, Doncaster and Highpoint for these many years. But, as of this Saturday, there is finally going to be a Lego Store in Melbourne Central. And, not just any LEGO store: the largest one in Australia. And I had a chance to check it out before it opens.The first thing you see when you enter the store is a giant LEGO tram, which takes some inspiration from the LEGO train at the Leicester Square Lego store in London. The piece

This AI Will Draw Anything You Tell It To

08-05-2022 23:30

Tech is awesome, but let’s be honest: Sometimes it gets a bit boring. Computers and smartphones change incrementally from year to year, software switches to subscriptions, and innovation, in general, isn’t so common. Every once in a while, though, a new tech development is actually surprising and exciting. That’s how I feel about this new AI, which will draw almost anything you throw at it.The software is called DALL·E 2, developed by OpenAI, which uses machine learning

Set This Hidden iPhone Timer to Shut Your Music Off After You Fall Asleep

08-05-2022 09:00

Rarely do I go to bed without something playing on my iPhone, usually a YouTube video. The problem is, I need to make sure the video is long enough for me to fall asleep to, but not so long it wakes up me down the line. Plus, I need to make sure autoplay is disabled, otherwise YouTube will be running through my recommended catalogue all night. At least, I had to worry about that, until I learned about my iPhone’s hidden sleep timer.If you’re like me, this problem probably bothers you

Aussie Election Ads Have Been Tracked Across 4,000 Facebook Pages and Cybersecurity Alarm Bells Are Ringing

08-05-2022 05:00

Have you noticed your Facebook and Instagram feed filling up with political ads lately?The social media strategies of many parties and candidates aim to bypass mainstream media to speak directly to voters, but they are often not as sophisticated as is assumed.As part of a team studying the digital campaign, we have been tracking what the parties and candidates are doing with their Facebook and Instagram ad spend during the election campaign.Using ads collected from the Facebook Ad Library API (c

Your Phone Lens Could Soon Give You an Instant Disease Diagnosis, Thanks to This New Device

07-05-2022 09:00

Infectious diseases such as malaria remain a leading cause of death in many regions. This is partly because people there don’t have access to medical diagnostic tools that can detect these diseases (along with a range of non-infectious diseases) at an early stage, when there is more scope for treatment.It’s a challenge scientists have risen to, with a goal to democratise health care for economically disadvantaged people the world over.My colleagues and I have developed a new method f

16 Movies That Prove Social Media Was Horrifying Even Before Elon Musk Bought Twitter

07-05-2022 07:14

The early days of social media ushered in an era of Web 2.0 fears, the loss of privacy and the threat of cyberstalking among them, plus the depressing realisation that everyone you went to high school with is overtly racist.In the decades since, we’ve found new, more existential flaws in the matrix, as troll farms encourage the distribution of false and damaging information that is algorithmically delivered to our apps in order to confirm our existing biases, or maybe make us really angry.

How to Stop Windows 11 From Updating Automatically

07-05-2022 03:01

Windows 10 gained a bad reputation when it came to updates — the internet is full of frustrated anecdotes about Windows rebooting to install an update at exactly the wrong time, like right when you’re about to start a presentation, or when you’re working on a tight deadline. This is one of the things that Microsoft improved upon in Windows 11.The system is more transparent now about installing updates, giving you notifications and warnings before doing so. If you tell it to del

Star Wars, Marvel, and Hygienic Dinos Lead This Week’s Toy News

07-05-2022 01:30

Welcome back to Toy Aisle, Gizmodo’s regular round up of the most fun, and occasionally weirdest, way to spend your money on the internet. This week, Lego turns to Marvel for its cutest new set, Hasbro teases what’s coming from its Obi-Wan Kenobi merch, and… well, have you ever needed more encouragement for proper bathroom etiquette? Check it out!
Lego Marvel The Infinity Saga I Am GrootThis past week was all about Star Wars reveals so let’s kick things off with Lego&rsq

How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password on an iPhone

06-05-2022 08:04

There is a super easy way to share your Wi-Fi password from iPhone to iPhone.If you’re one of those people that hasn’t changed your Wi-Fi password from the default given to you by your telco and you’ve got no chance of remembering the nonsensical string of characters, fear not, because there’s an easy way to share your password on an iPhone.
Whether you’re sharing your Wi-Fi password with a friend or a new iOS device you’ve brought in to your home, the method

The Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Is Set to Light Up Aussie Skies, Here’s How to Get the Best Seat in the House

06-05-2022 07:00

There’s something wonderful about sitting under the night sky, watching a meteor shower play out overhead. However, observers in the southern hemisphere usually get the short end of the stick, with most of the best showers strongly favouring those north of the equator.Every May, however, southern observers get a special treat – the Eta Aquariid meteor shower. This year conditions promise to be perfect, making it the ideal opportunity for some autumnal meteor observation.The forecast

Here’s What Would Happen if You Attached an AirTag to Your Cat

06-05-2022 05:40

Apple’s new tech accessory designed specifically for forgetful types who want to keep track of their stuff – the AirTag – has been met with a whole lot of interest since it was introduced to the public.Not all of the attention the device has been receiving is positive but in terms of the tech itself, these little trackable coins (read about safety features here) do offer a pretty cool function.One of the more popular questions surrounding AirTags, aside from safety, is: can I u