In December 2016 we posted on the NSW Law Reform Commission’s recommendation to replace section 6 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW). Six months later, we can now confirm that section 6 is (finally) dead and herald the new era of the Civil Liability (Third Party Claims Against Insurers) Act 2017 (NSW) …
Group purchasing bodies (GPBs) are no longer required to report breaches of the conditions of relief provided by ASIC Class Order 08/1 (Class Order). The obligation to comply with the breach reporting condition in the Class Order was due to commence from 30 June 2017 but has been repealed. GPBs are persons who arrange or …
Breach reporting obligation repealed for group purchasing bodies Read More »
The ban on conflicted remuneration should extend to the general insurance industry and to all life policies, regardless of whether the policy was obtained through the superannuation system or not, according to Industry Super Australia (ISA) and the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST). In May this year the Government sought stakeholder submissions on the five …
Call for extension of conflicted remuneration ban Read More »
Late last year the Government announced it would introduce an industry funding model for ASIC (our previous update on this can be found here). The ASIC Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Bill 2017 and related bills have now passed. Effective from 1 July 2017, ASIC’s regulatory costs will be recovered through annual levies from all industry …
In February this year the Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) Act 2017 (the Act) was passed by Parliament, followed by the associated regulations. Our updates on these can be found here and here. The Act removed the exemption from the ban on conflicted remuneration for commissions paid in relation to certain life insurance products. …
ASIC sets commission caps and clawback amounts for life insurance Read More »
On 1 May, amendments to the Estate Agents Act 1980 (Vic) took effect in Victoria. The new legislation is designed to address the allegedly widespread practice of underquoting in the Victorian real estate industry. The new laws strengthen existing prohibitions on underquoting, and apply only to residential properties. The legislation requires, amongst other things: The …
New laws place real estate agents under the hammer Read More »
Following on from our previous update regarding the new life insurance remuneration arrangements, the Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) Regulations 2017 (Regulations) have now been passed. The Regulations will take effect from 1 January 2018, the same date as the Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) Act 2017 (Act). The Act removed the exemption for …
As part of its Wealth Management Project, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released its report into how effectively Australia’s largest financial institutions oversee their financial advisers. The report is based on a 20-month project instigated by information received by ASIC about non-compliant advice, as well as public concerns about wider problems in large …
On 23 June 2015, the Senate commenced a wide-ranging an inquiry into the use of ‘non-conforming’ building products (being products and materials that do not meet required standards). The inquiry was launched following a 2014 fire in a Victorian apartment complex involving the use of aluminium composite panelling. The due date for reporting has been …
Senate Inquiry into ‘non-confirming’ building products is wrapping up Read More »
The Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) Bill 2016 (Bill) has passed both Houses and will take effect from 1 January 2018. After originally lapsing in April 2016, the Bill was reintroduced late last year with minor changes. The Bill will have a significant impact on life insurance brokers and represents the government’s response to …
Bill on conflicted remuneration for life insurance passed Read More »
Last Week the Senate passed the Corporations Amendment (Professional Standards of Financial Advisers) Bill 2016 and paved the way for wide ranging reforms (and increased compliance obligations) in the financial advisory industry. The new regime starts on 1 January 2019 and includes the following reforms: – Compulsory education requirements for both new and existing financial …
Last week Greg Medcraft, the chairperson of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), delivered a speech to the Insurance Council of Australia Annual Forum on the current insurance environment and ASIC’s priorities for the coming year. Current environment The speech commenced by noting that 2016 was an eventful year for the insurance industry. In …
ASIC reveals ‘hot spots’ for the insurance industry in 2017 Read More »
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