The level of competition in both the electricity and financial services sectors has been closely scrutinised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Productivity Commission While there are fundamental differences in market structures in both sectors the respective commissions ...

The Financial System Inquirys interim report has identified the retirement phase of superannuation as a priority issue that requires change If the Federal Government decides to implement various policy options to encourage the development of more suitable products it could result in significant ...

In this update we summarise the progress of new and existing rule change requests across the months of July and August and take a closer look at the AEMC review of the regulatory frameworks for embedded networks. ...

Is there more than one reason to call a product ‘natural’? The FCAFC thinks so, overturning Justice Katzmann’s finding that it is misleading to describe a product as ‘natural’ if it is not made wholly or substantially from natural ingredients. ...

The build-to-rent (BTR) model continues to gain pace in Australia as several projects prove the local viability of this asset class. ...

The Productivity Commission's report on superannuation has provided an odd mix of reccomendations ranging from uncontroversial to outright bizarre, Senior Regulatory Counsel Michael Mathieson writes. ...

From 1 November 2019 gift cards sold in Australia must be valid for at least three years under new legislation setting out a national framework for their regulation This provides greater certainty for issuers of gift cards who might otherwise have to comply with different state and territory laws ...

The recent Great Southern class action settlement included a term by which group members acknowledged and admitted that loans taken out with independent financiers to finance investments in Great Southern managed investment schemes were valid and enforceable Two separate Victorian Supreme Court ...

The South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission has released its tentative findings The Royal Commission will now embark on a series of meetings at various locations around South Australia to discuss these findings with interested stakeholders Partner Richard Malcolmson and Senior Associate ...

Treasury released a paper seeking feedback on a framework for Comprehensive Income Products for Retirement. It will permit trustees to offer members on a 'soft default' basis 'mass-customised, composite retirement income products' and, to encourage trustees ...