Choice (Australian consumer organisation)
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| Non-profit consumer organisation | |
| Founded | 1959 (as the Australasian Consumers' Association) |
| Founders |
Ruby Hutchison and Roland Thorp |
| Headquarters | Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Website | choice.com.au |
Choice is an Australian not for profit consumer organisation, previously known as the Australasian Consumers' Association. It is a non-partisan organisation that was founded in 1959 which 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, which are considered sister organisations.
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. More than 170,000 people subscribe to Choice.
Choice buys all the products it tests on the open market and does not accept advertising. Its income is derived from subscriptions and from the sale of its publications and products. It does not receive ongoing funding from commercial, government or other organisations.
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.
The organisation also publishes annual "Shonky Awards" that highlights dubious or dishonest behaviour from companies.
Following World War II, the economy and population of Australia was booming, but it was becoming clear that consumers did not have much guidance or protection.
Ruby Hutchison, MLC, the first woman to be elected to Western Australian upper house, had been receiving complaints from her constituents about the quality and value for money of goods. She knew of overseas consumer organizations in the US and UK so she found out how they worked with a view to creating something similar in Australia.
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