CHOICEの April 2026 の目次

Accessing personal or business finance could soon become harder for many Australian women, as artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into financial services, bringing with it an increased risk of inherent biases and discrimination. Experts are sounding the alarm that the banking and finance sectors’ embrace of new automated decision-making technology could leave women vulnerable to discrimination and more likely to be denied vital loans, as AI amplifies already skewed criteria. “The status quo is bad and AI is going to take it to the next level. Women are already starting on the back foot, but AI will pour fuel on the fire,” says Amanda Rose, CEO of Entrepreneurial & Small Business Women Australia. Leonora Risse, an economist focused on gender equality, says that, despite good intentions, AI models can ultimately…

If you’re a parent who’s recently sent a child back to school with a brand new uniform, or you’ve splashed out on new items for your own wardrobe, you’ll want to get the most from your investment. One way to do that is to ensure you’re caring for your clothes correctly, and your laundry routine is a big part of that. We spoke to the experts to find out what you can do to keep your clothes looking good for longer, helping you to save cash in the long run. “The process of washing … fades, stretches and erodes our clothing” Wash less When it comes to keeping your clothes fresh, you might be surprised to learn that the washing machine should not be your first choice. Leah Giblin is…

Any more questions regarding speed upgrades? We’ve got you covered. Q Am I on the NBN? Most likely. You can check your home’s NBN connection status on the NBN address checker website. If you have the internet but there isn’t information about your property, or you’re not absolutely certain that you don’t have satellite NBN, you’re either: 1 in a serviceable area that hasn’t yet connected to the NBN 2 on an older broadband network 3 in a rare area that isn’t serviced by the NBN 4 connected to the internet via an NBN alternative such as a 4/5G modem or Starlink. Residents in serviceable areas should contact NBN Co to determine their options for connecting to the NBN. Q How do I check my internet speeds? Go to the…

When we asked Australian shoppers what kinds of stains they typically encounter on wash day, the three most common culprits were grass and mud stains, perspiration stains, and splashes of cooking or food oil. Most of us will recognise these as recurring themes in our laundries. We test stain removers for their ability to tackle these most common stains, as well as a wide range of other stains including makeup, tomato, baby food and blood stains. The good news is that most are very treatable – as long as you’re using the right type of stain remover in the right way. Our results show that different products perform better on different types of stains, and choosing between a spray or a soaker can make a big difference. Also, as we…

Blenders are mostly used for making smoothies, soups and milkshakes, but they can also create delicious meals from scratch. Some can grind ingredients into pastes like pesto and nut butters, while others allow you to emulsify mayonnaise and make aioli. There are many types of blenders available, so how does a $50 standard benchtop model compare with a high-speed super blender (also known as a high-performance blender) that could set you back a cool $1699? And is a personal blender that specialises in serving up single-serve beverages right for you? Or would you prefer a portable blender with a USB charger to create blended creations while you’re on the move? A high-performance blender is more versatile and can tackle a range of tasks How much do blenders cost? The price…

If you looked at battery-powered mowers 10 years ago and dismissed them as useless, you might have been right. But improvements in cutting performance and battery life have been significant. Battery-powered options have been well worth a look for a few years now, making them a good choice for many homes. But there are still plenty of petrol and some corded electric mower models to choose from. We help you decide which will keep your lawn well groomed. Types of mowers PETROL LAWNMOWERS Petrol lawnmowers can be a hassle to start and refuel and, as well as the broader concerns for the environment, the air and noise pollution in your own backyard may be an issue. But the petrol mowers we’ve tested over the years are usually excellent grass cutters,…

‘The case of the century’ – ACCC takes Coles to court In February, Coles faced the Federal Court for allegedly misleading consumers with illusory “Down Down” promotions on more than 245 products. The ACCC alleges that Coles briefly raised the price of hundreds of items before dropping them “Down Down” to the previous usual price or, in some cases, more than the usual price. From Arnott’s Shapes to dog food, Strepsils, yoghurt and paper towels – hundreds of common household products were affected. With cost-of-living pressures remaining high, consumers deserve fair and transparent prices, with labelling that isn’t confusing and promotions that aren’t potentially misleading. This case will be important in clarifying the rules around discount promotions. If the ACCC wins, Coles could face significant penalties and may be required…

Hiking lessons Arriving in Helsinki, I received a message: “One of your bags did not board and will arrive on a later flight”. I’ve had plenty of bags not arrive with me and was sure the airline would return it, but after five days it still wasn’t there. I had a 1300km hike up the Baltic Coast ahead and my backpack and its contents were missing – $6500 worth of gear. The choice was to fork out a fortune to replace it or go home. I managed to replace a lot, except for my custom-made and ultralight gear, and made do with a pack 3kg heavier than usual. When I asked my hiking friends if they’d experienced this, and what they’d do differently, two things stood out. One was AirTags.…

Here’s an uncomfortable fact that you might not know: businesses aren’t legally required to make sure their products are safe before selling them in Australia. This means that they tend to take a reactive approach to product safety problems, rather than being proactive to prevent safety issues before they arise. CHOICE is calling on the government to implement a new law that says if you’re a business selling a product in Australia, it must be safe. We believe the onus for staying safe shouldn’t just be on the consumer. But as it stands, we can’t trust that all the products we buy are safe. World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated each year on 15 March, and the theme for 2026 was “Safe Products, Confident Consumers”. Unfortunately, we can’t be confident…

If you own an electric vehicle or have solar panels on your roof, you’ve taken steps to reduce your carbon footprint. Does that mean you should now be selling carbon credits? According to a new carbon credit exchange platform called Aetium, the answer is yes. Aetium is set up to issue carbon credits to people with EVs or solar technology and offer them for sale to businesses or individuals who want to offset their carbon emissions. The scheme is also open to people who have forests on their property, defined as more than 50 trees. The company claims that buyers of the carbon credits are making contributions that reduce net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, thereby reducing the buyers’ carbon footprints. Advocacy group Cimate Integrity says Aetium’s claims lack supporting evidence…

As the cost of living continues to bite, Australians face another increase to the price of health insurance, with the largest average hike in premiums we’ve seen since 2017. Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler announced the 4.41% average premium rise from 1 April, saying it reflects the rising costs of providing medical and hospital services, which increased 5% last financial year. Misleading averages This year’s 4.41% increase follows the 2025 increase of 3.73% and the 2024 increase of 3.03%. Medibank, Bupa, NIB and HCF have all implemented higher than average hikes. Even the average fund increases don’t tell the full story of the rising costs of health insurance “The average increase to premiums is just that – an average. It’s useful for understanding how much taxpayers increasingly spend…

Fridges with ice and water dispensers in the door seemed like the height of luxury when we were kids. Press a button and, like magic, you’d have ice-cold water or a glass full of clinking ice cubes. Owning one of these fridges represented having made it in life – if you had one, you’d reached the zenith of coolness (in more ways than one). Fast forward to adulthood and owning a fridge with a water and ice dispenser is still a some what achievable symbol of affluence that many of us aspire to. They’re also genuinely quite handy. Ice and water dispensers will eat into the usable storage space in your fridge or freezer But before you buy, there are some questions to ask yourself and a few things you…

Having a wristband track your daily activity was the stuff of science fiction only a generation ago. Wearables have come and gone over the years since, but fitness trackers have had staying power in Australia. How do fitness trackers work? Depending on the model, fitness trackers and smartwatches come with a range of fitness-related functions. At the least, they all count steps or distance travelled and save that information in an accompanying app, where the data is presented in graphs so you can track your activity and progress. Most let you set goals and track your progress over weeks or months, with feedback on your general health More expensive models have features like sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring (active and resting) and kilojoule input logs. They can provide detailed data on…

Energy smart meters are supposed to give us the information we need to better understand and control our power usage. The theory is that this will help us find ways to reduce our ever-increasing bills. Smart meters are also critical when it comes to monitoring the performance of solar devices. But unless you can access real-time smart meter data – information that tells you how much energy you’re using at a given time – fine-tuning your energy consumption from day to day will involve a lot of guesswork. Smart meters are meant to help lower bills, but the mandatory rollout has had the opposite effect for many At the moment, energy customers have access to daily usage data, but they have to request real-time, second-by-second data from their retailers, who…

In 2025, NBN Co, the organisation responsible for managing the National Broadband Network, rolled out upgrades that improved download and upload speeds and increased bandwidth, with many of these improvements passed on to consumers free of charge. Given the potential for faster internet, now is a great time to check if your NBN plan is still the best fit for your household. You could upgrade to an internet plan that’s five times faster than your current one for no extra cost, depending on where you live. NBN speeds and plans explained Still getting your head around all this NBN business? That’s OK, you’ll be a pro by the time you’ve finished reading this article. Now is a great time to check if your NBN plan is still the best fit…

If you’re planning an extended trip away from home, perhaps that long-awaited overseas adventure or a sabbatical to a holiday house, then checking your home insurance is something to add to your to-do list before you go. Companies that cover extended leave generally require customers to pay either a higher premium or a higher excess for that period. Depending on which company you’re with, you may also need to meet other requirements, such as having someone mow your lawn, collect your mail and regularly check on the house. This won’t just apply to those heading overseas, so if you’re planning a long trip within Australia, you’re staying elsewhere while you renovate, receiving long-term medical care in a hospital or a rehab centre, or you’ve moved out while trying to sell…

Choosing a freestanding oven is one of the biggest decisions you can make in your kitchen. Because they combine both an oven and a cooktop in one appliance, a solid choice can mean years of satisfaction, while a low performer could leave you pulling out your hair – whether you’re baking, roasting, frying or simmering. What to consider Freestanding ovens are commonly available in 60cm and 90cm sizes. In terms of power supply, any configuration goes – electric or gas oven, combined with a gas, induction or ceramic hob. Freestanding ovens are suitable for big families and for people who like to bake – the large internal space of the 90cm models is their biggest selling point. The ability to simultaneously roast two large turkeys, a tray of vegies and…

Australians take great pride in their lawns. Pushing a chugging mower up and down the yard in a quest for neat and perfectly clipped grass is basically a national pastime; the hum of an old-school Victa against a backdrop of thrumming cicada is one of the iconic sounds of summer. But could this all be a thing of the past? Robot lawnmowers are relatively new to Australia and the market is small when compared to places in Europe, but there’s still a decent range of models available from well-known brands such as Husqvarna, Stihl, Gardena and Worx. While many of us have embraced robot vacuums for cleaning up inside our houses, what happens when you take the tech outside? We delve into the pros and cons with our experts, including…