CHOICE demands parties address consumer issues

Posted by Nicole Eckersley on 29th July 2010

Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has challenged the major political parties to declare their hand on a range of consumer issues in the lead up to the Federal election.

The group sent letters to the Government and Opposition parties, as well as the Greens, asking them to outline their approach to consumer protection and list the five most significant priorities that will face whoever forms government after the August 21 poll.

CHOICE has also delivered a detailed questionnaire which asks the parties to state their policies on 15 specific consumer issues. These include supermarket competition, financial advice and superannuation reforms, household sustainability measures and bank account/credit card reforms.

“Anyone watching Sunday night’s leaders’ debate would have been disappointed if they were hoping to hear how both sides are proposing to keep a lid on grocery prices and approach the question of supermarket competition,” said CHOICE spokesman Christopher Zinn.

Among other issues, the political parties have been asked if they support a Supermarket Ombudsman and an airline industry code to better protect consumers.

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