#accc

[miumiumanzo]

ankha or melba

I find a lot of people humanized Ankha already so I went with Melba!

Request an Animal Crossing character you want me to draw as human! (closed on Saturday, January 11th)

[claraameliapond]

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR GOVERNMENT IS MAKING PRICE GOUGING ILLEGAL- DETAILS

Labor has already :

Put more money into the ACCC to ensure they're on top of supermarket competition

Made the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct Mandatory - with fines of up to 10 million dollars for supermarkets when they do the wrong thing

Cracking down on Shrinkflation - where supermarkets sell less of a product in the same packaging and charge you the same or more for it

Peter Dutton voted against all of this

Vote LABOR to Make Price Gouging ILLEGAL and Regulators like the ACCC funded to keep supermarkets and the cost of living in check and fair

[miumiumandoodz]

Silly animal crossing character full names, kinda humanized but also a bit cursed, just because I can make them, starting with special characters

Tom Nook - Thomas Nookington

Timmy and Tommy - Timothy and Tomberlina Nookington

Tortimer - Tortimer Tortel

Isabelle and Digby - Isabelle and Digby Cane (pun on canine, reference to Isabelle’s Spanish name)

Lyle and Lottie - Lyle Otterson and Charlotte Otterson

Pete - Peter Peterson

Gulliver - John “Johnny Washedpants” Gulliver

Pelly and Phyllis - Pelicia and Phyllis Pelley

Mr. and Don Resetti - Antonio and Donatello Resetti

Dodo bros - Wilbur and Orville Maurice Roderick (yes Orville has a middle name because I can)

The OK Motors bros - Giovanni, Beppe, and Carlo Colombo

Blathers and Celeste - Blathers and Celeste Thibault

Booker - Booker Bullock

Copper - Takeshi “Copper” Akiyama (because he's an あきやま��けし)

Porter - Phillip Porter

Reese and Cyrus - Cyrus and Reese Furnall (nee Reese Alps)

Brewster - Bartholomew Brewster

Kapp’n - Tappei Kappamaki (family follows his surname, Grams is probably Tatsuko Kappamaki. I imagine them being Japanese-Hawaiian, the native Hawaiian comes from Leilani’s side)

Kicks - Stuart Skunkleberg, simply known as Kicks

Leif - Leif Kalil

Able sisters is just Sable, Label, and Mable Able

Niko - Nikolas De Silva

Wardell - Wardell Ma’nati

Redd - Clifford Redd

Chip and CJ - Charles “Chip” Bieber and Charles Justin Bieber Jr. (hey, his Japanese name is Justin -- CJ can mean "Chip Junior" or "Charles Justin")

Nat and Flick - Nathaniel and Fletcher “Flick” Cameron

Pascal - Pedro Pascal

Shaharah - Shaharah Binti Mahmoud Al-Amin

Harriet - Harriet Cutteridge

Harvey - Harvey Spaniel

Joan and Daisy-Mae - Joan Wildstalk and Daisy-Mae Wildstalk (you know like, wild boar and stock?? Yeah)

Gracie - Gracie Grace

Luna, Blanca, and Katrina don't have full names because I think they're entities

Phineas - Phineas Pallonchino

Rover - Rover Katzinski

KK Slider - Keaton Kenneth Slider

Kaitlin and Katie - Kaitlin and Kathleen Stray

(I know I miss some but oh well, write in the reply who you think I should come up with -- or your own take of these names)

[phoenixx-news]

Australia's Major Supermarket Chains Accused of Misleading Discount Claims

Australia's two largest supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are being sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for allegedly deceiving consumers with false price reduction claims. The ACCC asserts that both companies violated consumer law by temporarily increasing prices before dropping them to levels that were often equal to or even higher than the original price, while claiming the discounts were permanent.

Coles has vowed to defend itself in court, while Woolworths is reviewing the allegations. Combined, the two chains control roughly two-thirds of the Australian grocery market. Over the past year, both retailers have faced heightened scrutiny amid accusations of price gouging and anti-competitive behavior.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in on the matter, calling the alleged actions "completely unacceptable" if proven true. He emphasized that such behavior undermines trust and is not in line with Australian values. "Customers deserve to be treated fairly, not as fools," Albanese said at a press conference where he also introduced draft legislation for a supermarket "code of conduct."

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb explained that Coles and Woolworths have long used marketing campaigns like 'Prices Dropped' and 'Down Down' to suggest permanent reductions in prices. However, the watchdog's investigation revealed that many of these discounts were misleading, affecting hundreds of products over a span of several months. Woolworths allegedly misled customers about 266 products over 20 months, while Coles did so for 245 products over 15 months.

The products involved in the allegations span a wide range, including pet food, Band-Aid bandages, mouthwash, and iconic Australian favorites like Arnott's Tim Tam biscuits, Bega Cheese, and Kellogg's cereal. According to the ACCC, the two supermarkets sold millions of these items, generating substantial revenue through the deceptive pricing practices.

Ms. Cass-Gottlieb emphasized the importance of accurate pricing during times of economic pressure, noting that many Australians depend on discounts to manage their grocery bills. "It’s vital that consumers can trust that discounts are real, especially with the rising cost of living," she said.

The ACCC is asking the Federal Court of Australia to impose substantial fines on Coles and Woolworths, as well as an order that they expand their charitable meal delivery programs.

In a statement, Coles acknowledged that rising costs have impacted product prices, but stressed that the company aims to balance those increases with providing value to customers. Coles also underscored its commitment to consumer law and building trust with all stakeholders. Woolworths echoed similar sentiments, stating that it is willing to engage with the ACCC and that it remains focused on delivering meaningful value to shoppers.

In response to the growing concerns, the Australian government has launched a review of the country's Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. The review recommended strengthening the code and giving the ACCC greater powers to enforce compliance. The proposed new code aims to protect suppliers and consumers alike, with harsh penalties for companies that breach its standards.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case highlights the increasing pressure on Australia’s supermarket sector to operate transparently and fairly in an era of rising living costs.

[404-unfoundbymystudents]

THIS is the shit that government departments are supposed to do. The ACCC does not fuck around.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/accc-takes-coles-and-woolies-to-court-over-alleged-dodgy-sale-prices/news-story/0565df6a9f293711a0a4ad951a8801a3

[recallsdirect]

Product Recall: Fisher-Price 3-in-1 SnugaPuppy Children's Activity Centers:

[qnewsau]

QNews takes on Google in David and Goliath legal battle

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/qnews-takes-on-google-in-david-and-goliath-legal-battle/

QNews takes on Google in David and Goliath legal battle

QNews and independent local newspaper The Sydney Times have joined forces to take on multinational technology company Google/Alphabet Inc. over alleged anticompetitive practices in the advertising technology (ad tech) sector.

The publications are leading a class action against the global corporate behemoth in a David and Goliath battle being funded by British financial institution Woodsford and run by Australian law firm Piper Alderman.

The class action aims to recover compensation for Australian-based website and app publishers who have suffered financial losses due to Google’s alleged misuse of market power in the ad tech sector.

The legal claim centres on four Google ad tech tools: Google Ad Manager, Doubleclick for Publishers, Google Ad Exchange and Google AdSense/AdMob.

QNews publisher Richard Bakker said the class action was not just about money but also fairness in the marketplace, with Google having a stranglehold on the ad tech sector.

“I’ve decided to take on this role because Google’s dominance in the ad tech market has created an environment that’s not just unfair but also detrimental to smaller publishers and media outlets,” Bakker said.

“Their practices stifle competition and leave businesses like mine with little choice but to accept unfavourable terms,” he said.

“It’s time to level the playing field and ensure that innovation and diversity in media can thrive without being crushed under monopolistic practices.”

Bakker said there was a lack of alternatives to the ad tech “ecosystem”, meaning Google effectively controlled the ad tech space in Australia,

Sydney Times publisher Axel Ritenis agreed, calling Google “a law unto themselves” operating in a “wild west environment”.

“One of the primary problems is that Google’s functions and operations are quite opaque; there are these algorithms being used and nobody really understands how their systems work, except for them,” Ritenis told QNews.

“This class action is based on the Trade Practices Act (now known as the Competition and Consumer Act) and our objection to Google relates to fair trading, monopolisation and restraints on trade,” he said.

“Google ads are used by thousands of companies in this country, from small owner-operated businesses up to corporate entities. Because Google controls the space, people have no alternative but to use Google for their advertising.”

A corporate leviathan

As of December 2024, Google/Alphabet Inc. had a market capitalisation of AUD $3.671 trillion, making it the fifth most valuable company in the world.

Economically, the company is larger than Australia, as well as most G20 nations, with only the GDPs of the USA, China, Japan and Germany exceeding Google/Alphabet’s market capitalisation in size.

Bakker said he was not afraid of going head-to-head with one of the world’s largest corporate entities.

“Fear should not prevent us from fighting for what’s right. By coming together, we can amplify our voices and stand a better chance against monopolistic practices,” he said.

Ritner acknowledged that some publishers may be hesitant to join the class action due to Google’s power.

“A lot of publishers are intimidated and scared to take a stand. There is the potential for search traffic to be impacted. I’m not suggesting that Google would ‘punish’ them for joining the class action, but I guess that’s the concern for some publishers, as they get a lot of traffic to their sites through Google,” Ritner said.

“Google has power analogous to a government. They should not have that level of power.”

Well-established precedents

Piper Alderman partners Lillian Rizio and Greg Whyte said that while the affair seemed like a David and Goliath battle, they believed the class action had a strong chance of success, “for the simple reason of the overwhelming merit of the claim”.

“The issues it is raising have been the subject of numerous regulatory findings, both in Australia and overseas,” they said.

“The issues being raised in this case are not novel. They are well-established.”

On 4 December, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a statement outlining their inquiry into digital platform services in Australia and their impacts on competition and consumers.

While the QNews–Sydney Times class action is the first of its kind in Australia, Piper Alderman said it was agitating the same issues and raising the same practices as regulatory proceedings in overseas jurisdictions such as Canada and several European nations.

“We are very grateful to QNews and to The Sydney Times for stepping forward to act as lead applicants in this very important case for the publishing industry in Australia,” they said.

Where to now?

Rizio and Whyte said the class action would now proceed through court processes to trial, if it does not settle beforehand.

“We expect the litigation to be hard fought and take a couple of years before reaching a conclusion.

“The ad tech supply chain involves complicated technology and the case will undoubtedly require expert economic testimony in order to define the markets and to establish Google’s significant market power in those markets.”

Publishers wishing to join the class action can register their interest at www.googleadtechaction.com.au.

[avandelay20]

Customers need public databases to reference while shopping to understand whether the price listed is actually on special or discount before buying the item.

Hold these companies accountable. Make all pricing transparent. Make costs and profit transparent as well.

Markets operate best when information is easily accessible. Grocery stores are notorious for rigging the prices on a frequent basis to gouge customers time and again, while treating shopping for basic necessities like a fucking video game.

[miumiumanzo]

Let's start the New Year with OPENING THE REQUEST BOX!

Feel free to request a 🎈humanized version of any Animal Crossing character you'd like me to draw!🎈 (it will be a quick sketch tho)

I will let this open 'til next week. I will also ignore requests that aren't Animal Crossing characters.

ANYWAY, HIT MY INBOX

[deefeeme]

Caballo Criollo recibe la denominación "Marca País" en la Exposición Rural 2024

Caballo Criollo recibe la denominación "Marca País" en la Exposición Rural 2024 El Caballo Criollo, símbolo de la cultura y el trabajo en Argentina, será reconocido como "Marca País" durante la Exposición Rural 2024, reafirmando su rol como embajador internacional de la nación.

El Caballo Criollo, símbolo de la cultura y el trabajo en Argentina, será reconocido como “Marca País” durante la Exposición Rural 2024, reafirmando su rol como embajador internacional de la nación. Exposición Rural 2024: Un escenario para el reconocimiento En el marco de la Exposición Rural 2024, que se celebra del 18 al 28 de julio en el predio de la Sociedad Rural Argentina en Palermo, el…

[elcorreografico]

Caballo Criollo recibe la denominación "Marca País" en la Exposición Rural 2024

Caballo Criollo recibe la denominación "Marca País" en la Exposición Rural 2024 El Caballo Criollo, símbolo de la cultura y el trabajo en Argentina, será reconocido como "Marca País" durante la Exposición Rural 2024, reafirmando su rol como embajador internacional de la nación.

El Caballo Criollo, símbolo de la cultura y el trabajo en Argentina, será reconocido como “Marca País” durante la Exposición Rural 2024, reafirmando su rol como embajador internacional de la nación. Exposición Rural 2024: Un escenario para el reconocimiento En el marco de la Exposición Rural 2024, que se celebra del 18 al 28 de julio en el predio de la Sociedad Rural Argentina en Palermo, el…

[nando161mando]

#LG #solarbatteries #ACCC #critical #firerisk

[muxas-world2]

“Mind games” cdwetfroggiex

[trashdoggieantepenultimate]

Trashdog is there any way for muwutuals to reach you other than tumblr

nooo im sorryy ;w;

[recallsdirect]

Product Recall: Bugaboo Giraffe Infant Highchairs: