A dramatic increase in the number of Victorian households experiencing involuntary electricity and/or gas disconnections has prompted a review of disconnections by the Victorian government. This research into the direct and indirect costs that arise from disconnections was commissioned by the Consumer Action Law Centre and contributed to their 'Heat or Eat' report. Summary of...

Executive summary On a daily basis, community-based financial counsellors deal with electricity and gas providers on behalf of customers who are struggling financially, and witness firsthand the efficacy or otherwise of hardship practices across different industries. The 2014 Rank the Energy Retailer survey provided an opportunity for Victorian financial counsellors to rank the policies and...

Background: The New Zealand National Heart Foundation developed the Healthy Heart visual food guide to aid New Zealanders in selecting a healthy diet. The visual food guide conveys a balance and proportion of foods, based on the recommended volume of each food group. The main component of the Healthy Heart thus consists of a large...

The cost of ATM fees is having a significant and detrimental impact on Indigenous people living in remote communities. The case studies in this report indicate that ATM fees of $20-$40 are commonly incurred by people on the day Centrelink payments are due.

The evidence for Britain shows that minimum wages are associated with a small increase in work-related training for the low paid and have not adversely affected the employment of British workers. The authors therefore suggest that the minimum wage has the potential to reduce wages inequality in the longer-term provided that it continues to be...