Choice (Australian consumer organisation)
Most commonly known as CHOICE (all capitals), the Australian Consumers' Association is an Australian not for profit consumer advocacy organisation. It is an independent membership based organisation founded in 1959 that researches and campaigns on behalf of Australian consumers. It is similar to the Consumers Union in the United States and Which? in the United Kingdom, who are considered sister organisations. It is the largest consumer organisation in Australia.
For other uses, see Choice (disambiguation).Formerly
Operations[edit]
CHOICE's job is to stand up against companies doing the wrong thing.[2] The aim of the organisation is to provide up-to-date information across a wide range of consumer issues that allows individuals to make informed consumer decisions. It also lobbies for change on behalf of consumers when required. CHOICE tests and rates a range of products and services, including appliances, baby products, electronics and home entertainment, computers, food and health, and financial products and services.[3] More than 200,000 people subscribe to the CHOICE magazine.[4][5]
In 2003, revenue for the organisation was over $10m and by 2019 had grown to over $20m.[5][6] It is a multi-faceted business with a staff of 80, which includes the scientists and technicians who test the products, policy specialists who devise campaigns, lobby politicians and speak on issues, as well as the journalists who write for CHOICE magazine.[5]
CHOICE buys most of the products it tests on the open market. Its income is mainly derived from subscriptions and from the sale of its publications and products. [1][7]
Campaigns and policy[edit]
CHOICE also campaigns on behalf of consumers and is a representative on many national and state-based government committees, councils and independent bodies related to consumer rights and issues including food regulation and labelling, health and financial services, telecommunications and digital technology, standards codes, ecologically sustainable development and the environment.[4][8]
The organisation also holds the annual "Shonky Awards" that highlight dubious or dishonest behaviour. They name and shame that year's most suspect products and companies.[9]
Every year CHOICE and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission host the Ruby Hutchison Memorial Lecture presenting consumer and rights topics.[10]
Managing Editor
Controversy[edit]
In 2018 the company Australian Hearing was prosecuted and fined for multiple breaches of competition and consumer laws. At the time of the breaches in 2017, the company was led by Bill Davidson who at the time was also the Deputy Chairman of CHOICE. CHOICE issued a statement rebuking Australian Hearing's actions after Davidson had left Australian Hearing in early 2018.[35]