Adviser fronts court on dishonesty charges
05 May 2014
Banned financial services adviser Barry David Hassell appeared in court in Adelaide last Friday to face more than 70 counts of dishonest conduct and dozens of other charges…
Regulatory & Government
Treasury snubs ICA on levy review
28 April 2014
Treasury’s response to the review of the financial institutions supervisory levy has disregarded a key point raised by the Insurance Council of Australia…
Changes to CTP claims roll out in NSW
28 April 2014
The NSW Motor Accidents Authority will launch new claims assessment guidelines for compulsory third party insurers on Thursday…
ASIC cancels Parramatta broker’s licence
28 April 2014
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has cancelled the financial services licence of Parramatta-based WD Gelle Insurance & Finance Brokers…
National injury scheme ‘could drive up state costs’
28 April 2014
Introducing the no-fault National Injury Insurance Scheme across state boundaries would result in significant costs for Queensland and WA, according to a new report…
Victorian injury rate hits record low
28 April 2014
The Victorian WorkCover Authority says the state’s injury rate fell to a record low in the six months to the end of last year, while the body’s profit grew on investment returns…
SA freezes WorkCover rate
28 April 2014
WorkCover SA will hold its average premium rate at 2.75% of wages for the coming year…
ASIC faces fire over independent experts
14 April 2014
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission admits it has been remiss in its monitoring of independent experts tasked with examining regulation breaches…
Regulator calls for flexibility on disclosure
14 April 2014
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission wants to reduce disclosure requirements it claims do not benefit consumers and are costly for industries…
FOS calls for inquiry focus on consumer trust
14 April 2014
Consumer trust in financial services should be at the heart of the financial system inquiry, according to the Financial Ombudsman Service…
Consumer advocates want action on affordability
14 April 2014
Consumer groups have urged the financial system inquiry to investigate insurance affordability and availability for low-income and disadvantaged groups, claiming the industry has made little effort to provide suitable products…
Comparison site no-shows ‘reduce competition’
14 April 2014
Suncorp and IAG’s refusal to allow their products on comparison websites contributes to a lack of transparency, reduced competition and ill-informed consumers, UK-based insurance comparator Compare the Market says…
Government takes over Victorian BWI
14 April 2014
The Victorian Government is to take over builders’ warranty insurance, setting up a fund under a single body to oversee builder registration, disputes and claims…
FSL monitor issues tax guidelines on refunds
14 April 2014
The Victorian Fire Services Levy Monitor has issued further guidelines for insurers that over-collected the levy…
APRA releases reinsurance documents
14 April 2014
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has released final documents for new reinsurance data collection requirements for general insurers…
WA cuts WorkCover rates
14 April 2014
WA WorkCover rates will fall 6.7% next financial year to an average recommended premium of 1.556% of total wages – down from 1.668% in the current year…
Regulation stifles expansion: IAG
07 April 2014
IAG says the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority is penalising the company for its Asian expansion strategy…
APRA seeks end to funding cuts
07 April 2014
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has called for an end to “efficiency dividend” funding cuts and has defended its performance in the insurance sector…
QBE seeks tax abolition, regulatory reform
07 April 2014
State insurance taxes should be abolished and excessive regulation wound back, QBE says in a submission to the financial system inquiry…
ICA calls for review of regulatory creep, affordability
07 April 2014
The financial system inquiry should examine the regulatory burden on the insurance sector and its impact on affordability and ability to write risk, the Insurance Council of Australia…