Kitchen appliance giant Thermomix has been imposed with a $79,200 penalty after Australia’s consumer watchdog found it allegedly misled customers by falsely promoting its products as endorsed by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Vorwerk Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Thermomix in Australia, allegedly claimed two of its popular products—the Thermomix TM6 and Kobold cordless vacuum and mop—were “NDIS approved” or “NDIS-registered.”
These claims appeared on its website in both November 2023 and March this year.
However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the NDIS does not endorse or register individual goods or services.
No Such Thing as ‘NDIS Approved’
ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the claims were misleading, especially to vulnerable consumers.
“The NDIS does not provide specific approval for any particular goods or services,” she said.
She added that each NDIS participant has unique needs, and what is funded under their plan is determined individually, not through a list of approved products.
“There are no categories of goods or services which are automatically NDIS approved or funded for all NDIS participants,” Cass-Gottlieb said.
Taking a serious view on the ads, Cass-Gottlieb said that misleading people with disabilities or those relying on the NDIS is particularly serious.
The ACCC warned businesses in November 2024 about deceptive marketing aimed at NDIS participants, amid growing concerns that some companies were inflating prices or making false claims to boost sales.
Since then, it has pursued compliance and enforcement measures against several businesses.
The Epoch Times contacted Thermomix for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Watchdog Cracks Down on NDIS Marketing
The enforcement action against Thermomix comes as part of a wider crackdown led by the NDIS (Fair Price and Australian Consumer Law) Taskforce.
The taskforce, formed in December 2023, includes the ACCC, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and the NDIA.
The ACCC is investigating whether other businesses are making similar misleading claims.
As of December 2024, over 500 active NDIS fraud investigations are underway, with 120 investigators targeting organised crime and dodgy providers.
Just last week, bedding retailer Bedshed Franchising Pty Ltd was fined $39,600 for allegedly advertising some of its mattresses and furniture as “NDIS approved” and “NDIS permitted.”
The ACCC issued two infringement notices, saying the ads could mislead NDIS participants into thinking the products had been formally endorsed.
“These infringement notices should serve as a warning to all businesses that advertise their products or services to NDIS participants—your advertising must reflect the facts,” Cass-Gottlieb said.
