On 22 May 2023, the Treasury announced that the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) industry will be regulated under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Credit Act). The move was announced by the financial services minister and assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones MP, at the Responsible Lending & Borrowing Summit. The announcement confirms that the […]
ReadmoreThe recent Employsure decision makes it very clear that penalties for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), particularly where those breaches occur online, cannot be considered a ‘cost of doing business’ by companies assessing risks around particular conduct or the adequacy of their compliance program. The Full Federal Court, on an appeal brought by […]
ReadmoreOn 21 November 2022, the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) options paper was released by Treasury for public consultation (Options Paper). The Options Paper examines the regulatory challenges of emerging financial products, particularly BNPL, and the appropriate regulatory approach to maintain the advantages of accessing credit while sufficiently protecting consumers. With the closing date for […]
ReadmoreAustralia Capital Financial Management Pty Ltd v Australian Financial Complaints Authority Limited [2022] NSWCA 204 The NSW Court of Appeal has upheld a decision that AFCA had jurisdiction to decide that a lender engaged in unconscionable conduct by taking a guarantee such that it was unenforceable and compensation had to be paid, despite the lender […]
ReadmorePartner Sonia Apikian and Senior Associate Susan Verginis discuss trends on Australian housing values, interest rates and their impact upon mortgage distress, with a focus on how lenders can assist their customers through financial difficulty. Click below to read the full article. If you found this insight article useful and you would like to subscribe […]
ReadmoreFor better or worse, the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) industry has continued to make headlines since our last report. The sector’s meteoric rise has been tempered in recent months by a combination of market saturation, broader macroeconomic factors, and, most recently, a new political climate. The new Labor Government has made clear its intentions […]
ReadmoreControl of the present Organisations are facing continual changes to their regulatory requirements. So, understanding the change is essential to avoid costly fines, reputational damage, or even a loss of the right to operate. If you’re reading this article, you might be interested in whether you need to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) […]
ReadmoreOn 23 June 2022, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released a range of documents relevant to the commencement of the corporate collective investment vehicles (CCIVs) regime on 1 July 2022. The packet of material includes updates to key licensing guidance (Regulatory Guides 1, 2, and 3), general obligations under an Australian financial services […]
ReadmoreWhile most of the world’s regulators are still putting pen to paper, the early glimpse into the United States of America (US)’s possible crypto-regulatory future has given us much to digest. The US often leads global financial regulation on a leash. In an area as contentious and topical as crypto regulation, will Australia follow suit? […]
ReadmoreThe obligation to give clients a fee disclosure statement (FDS) annually where there is an ongoing fee arrangement has applied since 1 July 2012. From 1 July 2021, two broad additional obligations have applied between both advisors and clients where there is an ongoing fee arrangement (OFA) in place. These additional obligations were introduced by […]
ReadmoreCombining Anti-Money Laundering (AML) considerations with cryptocurrency technology is akin to adding gasoline to a bonfire. It is a hot topic on the mind of every member of the global financial services industry. How are we to regulate and manage a new technology that seems to feed into the hands of money launderers? As AUSTRAC […]
ReadmoreConsumer Data Right presents new legal risks and challenges for insurers. Consumer Data Right (CDR) gives a consumer more control over their information, enabling them to access and share their data with accredited third parties to obtain better deals on everyday products and services. The Australian Government sees the CDR as central to driving competition […]
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