financial hardship

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Today (5 December) the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services will release its long-awaited report from the inquiry into the Financial Services Regulatory Framework in Relation to Financial Abuse, which commenced in April 2024. Members of the Economic Abuse Reference Group, a national network of over 50 community organisations that work with government…

Read More Community Advocates Welcome Government Report on Financial Abuse

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Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has welcomed an ASIC report calling on Australia’s insurers to improve their complaints handling processes.   “We are disappointed but not surprised.?The findings from ASIC’s review of insurance complaints handling mirrors the experience of many financial counsellors supporting their clients through the claims process,” said Vicki Staff, FCA’s insurance expert.   ASIC’s review of…

Read More Review Finds Systemic Failures in Insurers’ Internal Dispute Resolution

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The Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) is developing their priorities for 2025-26 and is inviting interested parties to complete a short survey to share “new or emerging risks, issues or practices that you believe are concerns and causing harm to consumers or leading to poor outcomes”. The survey is open from 2/12/2024 to 7/02/2025 and survey…

Read More Banking Code Compliance Committee 2025-26 Priorities Consultation

News

Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin said she was absolutely delighted that Minister Bill Shorten has announced consumer protections and reforms to Centrepay that restore it to its original purpose; that it should only be used by consumers to make regular voluntary payments for essential bills and expenses. (link to media release) “We have…

Read More New Centrepay Reform Bans Predatory Rent-to-Buy’s in Win for Consumers and Advocates

Logos for: Consumer Action Law Centre, Ican, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Mob Strong Debt Help, Financial Counselling Australia, Super Consumers Australia

Below is a joint submission made on behalf of: •Consumer Action Law Centre•Financial Counselling Australia•Financial Rights Legal Centre•Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network•Mob Strong Debt Help•Super Consumers Australia. This media release and joint submission was found on Consumer Action Law Centre’s website here: Our organisations welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the…

Read More Joint Submission Details Challenges and Fixes for IDs

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Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has welcomed the Federal Government announcement of the next round of grants for Financial Wellbeing and Capability programs.  ? Applications are now open for the following grant programs:  Closed grant processes will follow for the National Debt Helpline, No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS), NILS for Vehicles, Saver Plus and Financial Counselling and…

Read More Grants Open for Financial Wellbeing and Capability

SCAM ALERT

The National Anti-Scam Centre is warning Australians that criminals are impersonating charities and offering fake financial assistance schemes to target people experiencing financial hardship.  No Interest Loan Schemes are offered by trusted charities such as Good Shepherd and the Salvation Army and are intended to support low-income earners and people in hardship who are experiencing…

Read More People in Hardship Targeted in Criminal Financial Assistance Scams

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The Australian Government’s cyclone reinsurance pool has begun delivering lower premiums for some consumers in some regions facing higher risk of cyclones, the ACCC’s third insurance monitoring report has found. However, the savings generated by the reinsurance pool have been offset to varying extents by other cost increases affecting insurance markets. These costs include the broader hardening…

Read More Savings from Cyclone Reinsurance Pool Present, Offset by Cost Increases

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Mandatory code of practice, subsidies for food transportation and increased income support needed A coalition of consumer and indigenous groups is calling on the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to better protect vulnerable residents in remote areas. The organisations have welcomed the proposed National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities, but they…

Read More Consumer Groups Call on NIAA to Strengthen Remote Food Security Strategy

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With ongoing cost of living pressures impacting household budgets, the Consumer Affairs Victoria has come up with some tips to help you become an informed and savvy consumer and to save some money along the way. When you shop, think carefully before you buy. Learn more about consumer guarantees here. Save at the checkout by…

Read More Top Consumer Tips to Beat Cost of Living Pressures

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ICAN’s Yarnin’ Energy project launched earlier this month after receiving funding from the Queensland Department of Energy and Climate’s, Enable Grants Program.  ICAN CEO, Aaron Davis, said, “Inflation has seriously impacted household budgets and higher energy costs contribute to the current cost of living crisis. We’re excited to launch our Yarnin’ Energy project, which combines,…

Read More ICAN Launches Yarnin’ Energy as Cost of Living Crisis Continues