News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs.
Below are snippets of all the media releases we received from June 22 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week

Local News

Online Safety Pledge Expanded

Perth, June 22: Major online marketplaces have agreed to strengthen efforts to prevent unsafe products from being sold to Australian consumers, with Temu and Gumtree joining the Australian Product Safety Pledge.
The voluntary initiative, administered by the ACCC, now includes Temu, Gumtree, Amazon Australia, eBay Australia and AliExpress. Signatories have committed to enhanced product safety measures beyond existing legal requirements and will report annually to the ACCC on their performance.
“We have long been concerned about the volume of unsafe consumer products available for sale online, and will continue working with online marketplaces to ensure they proactively reduce product safety risks for consumers,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
The updated pledge increases commitments from 12 to 15 measures, including stronger monitoring for unsafe products, regular platform sweeps and action against sellers who fail to address product safety concerns.
“With Australian households increasingly shopping online from an evolving range of marketplaces, it is critical that consumers are able to make choices that are safe. The pledge goes beyond the existing law thereby adding protection for consumers now and into the future,” Lowe said.

Egg Producer Fined Over Claims

Perth, June 22: Victorian egg producer Doreen Egg Aust Pty Ltd has paid $39,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued two infringement notices over alleged false or misleading free-range egg claims.
The ACCC alleges, and Doreen Egg admits, that more than 8,600 cartons of eggs were sold as “free range” in May and June 2025 despite the hens not having access to an outdoor range as required under Australia’s Free Range Egg Labelling Information Standard.
The company also admitted selling eggs in cartons displaying the Australian Eggs Ltd logo, suggesting sponsorship or approval that did not exist.
“Consumers often seek out and pay a premium for free-range eggs, so they need to be confident the eggs meet the legal definition of being ‘free range’,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
In a court-enforceable undertaking, Doreen Egg admitted engaging in conduct likely to contravene the Australian Consumer Law and has committed to reviewing compliance processes, updating packaging and traceability systems, conducting staff training and informing consumers about the misrepresentations.
“The ACCC will continue to monitor the market to ensure free-range claims are truthful and accurate, and will take action where necessary,” Keogh said.

Women Drive Live Music Growth

Perth, June 22: Australian women are emerging as a major growth opportunity for the live music industry, with new research showing they influence not only attendance but also spending, planning and group participation.
The global study, Her Frequency: How Women Amplify Value Across the Live Music Experience, surveyed nearly 15,000 women across 12 markets and found that 85 per cent of Australian women would spend more on live music experiences if they were more seamless, immersive and rewarding.
The research found 78 per cent of Australian women believe live music helps them feel connected to others, while 75 per cent say it reflects their identity and individuality.
Women are also playing a key role in organising events, with 84 per cent involved in planning and coordinating the experience before, during and after a show.
More than half of Australian women surveyed spend over $100 beyond the cost of admission, while 29 per cent spend more than $200 and 11 per cent spend more than $500 per event on items such as transport, food, beverages, merchandise and hospitality.
“The live music industry has always understood the immense power of fandom, but this research gives us a more nuanced view of how women create value across the entire experience,” said Thayer Lavielle, Managing Director of The Collective at THE·TEAM.
The study identified significant opportunities for artists, venues, festivals and brands to increase participation by improving convenience, comfort and the overall event experience for women.

Parenting Costs Climb

Perth, June 22: The average cost of raising a child in Australia has reached $8,472 a year, according to Finder’s Parenting Report 2026.
The report, based on a survey of 1,008 parents with children under 13, found food remains the largest annual expense at $3,305 per child, followed by childcare at $1,754.
Almost one in 10 parents said they had no savings before starting a family, while 28.9 per cent had at least $25,000 set aside before having their first child.
The study also found more parents are choosing private healthcare during pregnancy, with 36 per cent using private care compared with 28 per cent in 2021. Meanwhile, the proportion of parents reporting no out-of-pocket pregnancy costs fell from 36 per cent to 21 per cent over the same period.
Parents took an average of 3.5 months of paid leave and three months of unpaid leave, with 52 per cent saying parental leave negatively affected at least one aspect of their career or finances.
Financial literacy appears to be gaining importance in Australian households, with 67 per cent of parents reporting they have spoken to their children about saving or investing, while three in four children under 13 receive pocket money.
“Raising kids in 2026 is a masterclass in financial juggling. When everyday essentials like food and childcare are eating up over $5,000 a year per child alone, it forces parents to look at their household budgets through a completely different lens,” said Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder.

ACCC Sues Wellness Firm Miyagi

Perth, June 23: The ACCC has launched Federal Court action against health and wellbeing company Miyagi Pty Ltd and its founder and CEO Shane Da Costa.
It alleges Miyagi used unfair contract terms between November 2023 and January 2025 that stopped many consumers cancelling, and made false or misleading claims about refund rights and staff affiliations from January 2022. Sales staff allegedly implied they were medical professionals despite holding no formal qualifications.
Miyagi provided programs to thousands of consumers with conditions including diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnoea and menopause, costing between about $1800 and $7500. The ACCC says many cancellation and refund requests were denied, including some made before consumers accessed any services.
“We are taking this action because we are extremely concerned that consumers, including many with complex health conditions, signed up to Miyagi’s program on a false premise, under unfair contract terms and after having been given incorrect information about their consumer rights,” ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward said.
The ACCC is seeking declarations, consumer redress, penalties and other orders, including disqualifying Mr Da Costa from managing a business.

Power Bills Spark Home Rules

Perth, June 23: Millions of Australians are setting household rules around energy use as soaring costs squeeze budgets, according to new research by comparison site Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,010 respondents found 38% — equivalent to 8.1 million people — have introduced ‘house rules’ to cap energy costs this year, such as shorter showers, lights-off checks and using the heater less. A further 20% plan to start.
“People are rationing heat and light in their own homes – that tells you everything about how stretched budgets have become,” Finder utilities expert Mariam Gabaji said. “With federal government rebates now finished, households are feeling the full force of electricity bills.”
Gabaji said behavioural changes only go so far, urging households to compare plans ahead of energy price changes from 1 July. “The single biggest thing most Australians can do is compare their energy plan – switching to a better rate can save hundreds of dollars a year without changing a single habit.”
Separate Finder research shows almost half of Australians (48%) expect their energy bills to be higher in 12 months.

ACS Names Ralston As New CEO

Perth, June 23: The Australian Computer Society has appointed Dr Prins Ralston as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
A 35-year ACS member and former president, Dr Ralston has served as interim CEO since March. He will now formally lead the organisation as it focuses on supporting technology professionals, strengthening the national digital skills pipeline and advancing the tech sector’s role in the economy.
His background spans engineering, IT and communications, with qualifications in accounting and law and a doctorate in juridical science. He has spent 18 years as a CEO across the public, private and for-purpose sectors, most recently leading Townsville City Council through a large-scale transformation with an annual operating budget approaching $1 billion.
“Prins brings a rare combination of member insight, organisational leadership, and strategic clarity,” ACS President Beau Tydd said. “As a long-time ACS member and former President, he understands the value ACS provides and the expectations of our members.”
Dr Ralston said he was honoured to accept the role. “ACS has played an important role throughout my professional life, and I understand first-hand the value of belonging to a community that supports, represents, and advances the technology profession.”