Choice’s 2026 Shonky Awards highlight worst products/services in Australia

Consensus Summary

Choice’s 2026 Shonky Awards, now in their 21st year, exposed a range of Australia’s worst products and services, from predatory ticket pricing to misleading energy ratings and exploitative business practices. The awards highlighted Ticketek and Ticketmaster’s repeated use of dynamic pricing and 'in demand' tactics to inflate concert and sports ticket prices, with examples including a John Farnham Tribute concert ticket priced at $1,650 and NRL fans paying $50 extra for seats just one row apart. Virgin Australia also faced criticism for pocketing $75 million in expired COVID-19 flight credits, despite extensions pushing the deadline to May 27, 2027, and customers being forced to book trips by June 30, 2026.

The Shonky Awards reflect growing consumer frustration with practices that exploit financial hardship, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis. Ticket pricing tactics, such as dynamic pricing, have drawn scrutiny from regulators, with changes to Australian Consumer Law set to take effect in July 2027 to curb manipulative pricing. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia’s handling of unused flight credits—amassing $93 million in unredeemed balances by February 2026—underscores broader concerns about corporate accountability during the pandemic. Both ABC and Guardian reports emphasize that these issues are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of consumer exploitation across industries.

Key figures in the awards included Choice’s editorial director Mark Serrels, who criticized Hisense’s 8-star energy-rated washer-dryer for taking 25 hours to complete a cycle, calling it 'greenwashing.' Sony also faced backlash for its January 2028 shift to digital-only PlayStation games, removing ownership rights and threatening the second-hand market. Petcover’s policy of resetting pet insurance policies every 12 months, thereby excluding all pre-existing conditions, further highlighted the industry’s predatory practices. Statements from companies like Ticketmaster and Virgin Australia defended their actions, with Ticketmaster denying surge pricing and Virgin Australia claiming over 93% of COVID credits were redeemed, though Choice and the Guardian argue these measures still left consumers at a disadvantage.

While both outlets agree on the core issues—predatory pricing, misleading energy ratings, and exploitative business models—they differ in emphasis. The ABC focuses on the financial impact of Virgin Australia’s actions, citing its 2025/26 annual report and the $404 million net profit affected by expired credits. The Guardian, however, places greater weight on regulatory failures, noting the Albanese government’s 2024 promise to restrict dynamic pricing was not fully implemented in the 2027 laws. Additionally, the Guardian provides more detail on Hisense’s energy rating calculations, describing how manufacturers exploit the system by selecting the most efficient—but impractical—programs for ratings, while the ABC frames this as part of a broader 'greenwashing' trend.

Looking ahead, the articles suggest ongoing battles over consumer protections. Choice’s CEO Monique Perry called for stronger price-gouging laws and urged Virgin Australia to refund the $75 million or extend credit deadlines indefinitely. The energy rating system for appliances is also due for an overhaul, with both sources agreeing that manufacturers must be held accountable for misleading claims. Meanwhile, Sony’s digital-only gaming model raises concerns about the future of game ownership, with Choice warning this could set a precedent for other industries. The unresolved question remains whether regulatory changes in 2027 will be enough to address these systemic issues or if further action is needed to protect consumers from exploitative practices.