ASIC continues Westpoint cull
19 May 2008
A former Westpoint adviser has appeared in front of a Sydney local court on charges of providing advice without holding an Australian financial services licence...
Regulatory & Government
ASIC faces a shake-up
12 May 2008
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will undergo some radical change over the next year following a decision to accept the recommendations of a wide-ranging…
National consumer law looks likely
12 May 2008
Consumer Affairs Minister Chris Bowen has welcomed the results of a review into the consumer policy framework which has recommended Australia adopt national consumer legislation...
Leader backs national workers’ comp scheme
05 May 2008
One of the country’s most influential public policy reformers has called for a national system of workers’ compensation to reduce the cost and complexity for employers…
‘Hard fight’ on way over insurance taxes
05 May 2008
Queensland shadow treasurer Bruce Flegg is pressuring the state government to drop insurance taxes...
ASIC updates online training register
05 May 2008
ASIC has revamped its online training register by improving the website’s functionality and adding new course information...
ASIC confirms Bligh as CEO
28 April 2008
ASIC has confirmed John Bligh in the new position of CEO, covering such administrative functions as IT, finance, HR and customer service...
Volatile markets hot topic for Finance Industry Council
28 April 2008
The Finance Industry Council of Australia met last week with ASIC and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to discuss major challenges facing the financial…
Govt terrorism pool appoints two to board
28 April 2008
Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen has announced two appointments to the board of the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation...
Victorian Government rejects fire services levy appeal
21 April 2008
The Victorian Government has again refused to scrap the fire services levy, five years after the HIH Royal Commission recommended its removal...
Lords step in for HIH creditors
21 April 2008
Australian creditors of failed insurer HIH will benefit from a British ruling in favour of applying Australian bankruptcy law to reinsurance assets held in the UK...
SA WorkCover exit fees threaten self-insurance
21 April 2008
South Australian employers are concerned a State Government proposal to charge WorkCover exit fees will prevent firms from self-insuring...
Queensland targets dodgy landlords with fire safety laws
21 April 2008
The Queensland Government has tightened fire safety regulations by closing a loophole which allowed budget hoteliers to sidestep safety standards if they did not provide…
Vic review period near end
21 April 2008
Submissions to the review of Victoria’s Accident Compensation Act, which regulates the workers’ compensation scheme, will close on May 2...
Taxpayer digs deep for uninsured storm victims
14 April 2008
The Victorian Government has announced a storm relief package of up to $26,000 for uninsured households, despite concern that state assistance encourages underinsurance...
NSW broker pleads guilty to ASIC charges
14 April 2008
A NSW broker’s attempt to pass off false insurance contracts underwritten with $30 million of coverage from Lloyd’s came unstuck when the UK institution alerted tASIC to his actions…
Hawker flies lone insurance flag on beefed-up FSAC
14 April 2008
IAG CEO Michael Hawker remains the sole general insurance representative on the Federal Government’s expanded Financial Services Advisory Council...
Swiss Re chief calls for global insurance regime
14 April 2008
Australia’s financial services regulators might be relaxing after a thorough bout of reform over the past seven years, but one UK reinsurance leader has urged for “greater harmonisation”…
APRA scuttles its reinsurance plan
07 April 2008
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has backed away from controversial plans to change reinsurance recoverables and investment capital factors...
ASIC proposes online disclosure
07 April 2008
ASIC is seeking feedback on plans to “ease the burden of disclosure” on the financial services industry by using the internet...