Submission on the Review of Retail Grocery Industry (Unit Pricing) Code of Conduct
February 2019
Financial Counselling Australia Submission
Submission on Early Release of Superannuation Benefits - Further Consultation and Draft Proposals
February 2019
Joint FCA and Financial Counselling Association Submission
Submission on Mortgage Broking: Consumer Groups Quit Disengenuos Consultation
February 2019
Joint Consumer Group submission
Submission on Consumer Safeguards Review Part B - Reliability of services
January 2019
Financial Counselling Australia submission
Submission on Life Insurance Code of Practice, Consultation Draft
January 2019
Joint consumer group submission
Submission 2 on Senate Inquiry into credit and financial services targeted at people in financial hardship
November 2018
Joint FCA and Financial Counselling Association Submission
Submission 1 on Senate Inquiry into credit and financial services targeted at people in financial hardship
November 2018
Joint FCA and Financial Counselling Association Submission
Submission on Design and Distribution obligations and Product Intervention Powers and Regulations
November 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry: Superannuation
October 2018
Financial Counselling Australia Submission
Submission to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry: Issues relating to gambling
October 2018
Financial Counselling Australia Submission
Submission to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry: Response to (Round 7) Interim Report
October 2018
Financial Counselling Australia Submission
Submission to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry: A proposal for the industry levy to fund community financial counselling and consumer legal services
October 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on Design and Distribution Obligations and Product Intervention Powers
August 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on ASIC report concerning Credit Card Responsible Lending Assessments
July 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on the Inquiry into Competition in the Australian Financial System
July 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on Round 4 Hearings (Royal Commission into the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry): Interactions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in regional and remote communities with financial services entities
July 2018
Financial Counselling Australia Submission
Submission on Treasure Laws Amendment (Protect Your Superannuation Package Bill Package) Bill
July 2018
Financial Counselling Australia Submission
Submission on the Use of Hardship Flags in Credit Reporting
Submission on Early Access to Superannuation
May 2018
Financial Counselling Australia Submission
Submission on the Oversight of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority: Update to RG139
April 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on Bankruptcy Amendment (Debt Agreement Reform) Bill 2018
February 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on Bankruptcy Amendment (Enterprise Incentives) Bill 2017 - Reduction of Bankruptcy Period from 3 Years to 12 Months
February 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on Early Release of Superannuation Benefits - Under Compassionate and Financial Hardship Grounds and for Victims of Crime Compensation
February 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission on Design and Distribution Obligations and Product Intervention Powers
February 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission to the Insurance Council of Australia on General Insurance Code of Practice (2017 Review: Interim Report)
January 2018
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Pre-Budget Submission to the Federal Government
January 2018
Financial Conselling Australia Submission
Review of gambling advertising provisions in Australian media codes
December 2017
Submission to review of subscription television code of practice
Submission to review of free to air television code of practice
Submission to review of commercial radio code of practice
Submission to review of subscription television code of practice
November 2017
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Submission to ASIC on strengthening penalties for corporate and financial sector misconduct
November 2017
Financial Counselling Australia's submission
Submission to ACCC on ATM Fees in Indigenous Communities
November 2017
Joint submission from FCA, CALC and ICAN
Submission to Treasury on Small Amount Credit and Consumer Lease Reform
November 2017
Joint Consumer Group Submission
Supplementary Submission to Treasury on Open Banking
October 2017
Joint consumer submission.
Submission to Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation on Sixth Review of Casino Licence and Operator
September 2017
Financial Counselling Australia's submission.
Submission to Treasury on Open Banking
September 2017
Joint submission from Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Rights Legal Centre and Financial Counselling Australia.
Joint Submission to Productivity Commission on Inquiry into Competition in Financial System
September 2017
Joint submission from Financial Rights Legal Centre, Financial Counselling Australia and Financial Rights Legal Centre.
Joint Response to the Australian Bankers' Association's Request for Authorisation
September 2017
Joint response from Financial Counselling Australia, Consumer Action Law Centre and the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network
Joint Submission to the ASIC Review of Mortgage Broker Remuneration
July 2017
Joint submission from CHOICE, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Financial Counselling Australia and Consumer Action Legal Centre.
Joint Submission to EDR Review - Supplementary Issues Paper
July 2017
Joint consumer group submission.
Submission to the Inquiry into Consumer Protection in the Banking, Insurance and Financial Sector
March 2017
Financial Counselling Australia's Submission
Submission to Inquiry of Better Management of Social Welfare System Initiative
March 2017
Financial Counselling Australia's Submission
Submission to the Review of the Financial System Dispute Resolution Framework (Interim Report)
February 2017
Joint Consumer Submission
Submission to DSS Discussion Paper on Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity
January 2017
Financial Counselling Australia's submission.
Submission to the Public Inquiry on Disability Support Pension Administration (Audit Report)
November 2016
Financial Counselling Australia's Submission
Submission to the Productivity Commission's Report into Competition in Human Services
October 2016
Financial Counselling Australia's Submission
Submission to the Review of the Financial System Dispute Resolution Framework
October 2016
Joint Consumer Submission
Consultation on Expansion of FOS’s Small Business Jurisdiction
September 2016
Joint Consumer submission
Response to the Proposals Paper: Improving Bankruptcy and Insolvency Laws
June 2016
Improving Bankruptcy and Insolvency Laws
Submission to the Treasury Consultation on Improving Consumer Outcomes in Credit Card Usage
June 2016
Improving Consumer Outcomes in Credit Card Usage
Submission to the AER's Consultation on the Minimum Disconnection Amount
June 2016
Review of the Minimum Disconnection Amount
Submission to the Review of Federal Consumer Law
June 2016
Review of Australian Consumer Law
Pre-Budget Submission to the Federal Government
February 2016
Re: Funding of Financial Counselling Services Makes Sense
Submission to the 'Proposed Industry Funding Model for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission' consultation
October 2015
Re: Proposed Industry Funding Model for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Consultation Paper
Submission to the Inquiry about the proposed Debit Card Trial
September 2015
FCA Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Debit Card Trial) Bill 2015
Submission to the Inquiry about Matters Relating to Credit Card Interest Rates
August 2015
FCA Submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Economics on the Inquiry into Matters Relating to Credit Card Interest Rates
Submission to the Inquiry about Tendering Processes
April 2015
FCA Submission to the Impact on Service Quality, Efficiency and Sustainability of Recent Commonwealth Community Service Tendering Processes by the Department of Social Services
2015 Pre-Budget Submission
February 2015
Further support for continued funding of financial counselling.
Submission to ASIC re: Electronic Disclosure
January 2015
FCA Response To ASIC Consultation Paper 224
Submission to the Attorney-General's Department
February 2014
Proposed Introduction of Fees for Debtors Petitions, Overseas Travel Requests and the Realisations Charge
2014 Pre-Budget Submission
January 2014
FCA's submission puts the case for the continued funding for finanical counselling services as a budget priority.
Submission to Draft Terms of Reference for the Financial Systems Inquiry
December 2013
The FCA submission argues that the inquiry's terms of reference need to explicity recognise that the financial system must benefit consumers and the public interest. We also argue that there needs to be a focus on access to the financial system. We welcome the reference in the terms of reference to "fairness" and the recognition that financial products need to be safe.
Submission - Response to the October 2012 Proposals Paper re Review of Debt Agreements
December 2012
FCA's submission supports the majority of the proposed changes to the regulation of debt agreements, including new powers in relation to advertising and timeframes for the listing on the NPII. We suggest in addition that Key Fact Sheets could also be introduced to simplify disclosure obligations and make it easier for consumers to understand the arrangement. We remain concerned about the activities of debt agreement brokers, that fall outside the regulatory regime.
Submission - Inquiry into the Do Not Knock Register Bill
August 2012
FCA supports a private member's bill that would set up a Do Not Knock register, in the same way as we currently have a Do Not Call register. Our submission includes a number of case studies, highlighting in particular the systemic problems with door-to-door sales in ATSI communities (5 pages).
ATM Fees in Remote ATSI Communities
July 2012
Submissions to the ACCC re the authorisation of an arrangement between private ATM provider and a number of banks that will lead to fee-free ATMs in up to 85 remote Indigenous communities. FCA supports the ACCC granting the authorisation. Interim submission (10 pages) and Final submission (17 pages)
Credit Card Regulations
September 2011
FCA supports the Federal Government's proposed credit card regulations specifying that statements must have a minimum repayment warning and provide financial counselling contact details via the 1800 007 007 helpline. Read about these proposals
Payday Lending
September 2011
In September, the Government introduced a payday lending bill proposing a two-tier cap on interest rates and charges. If passed there will be a 48% all inclusive cap for amounts over $2000/2 years, and a 10% upfront charge and 2% per month for amounts below this. Read the FCA submission
National Consumer Protection Amendment (Enhancements) Bill
September 2011
The government has proposed a number of important new reforms to credit regulation that will enhance consumer protection. FCA supports proposals to restrict the term “financial counsellor”. This will stop for-profit providers using the term and misleading consumers. We also support the broadening of the hardship provisions under the National Credit Code and proposals that will see consumer leases subject to similar provisions to other credit contract. read the submission
Bankruptcy
August 2010
To Attorney-General's Department re Amendments to Bankruptcy Regulations. 5 pages. read the submission
January 2010
To Attorney-General's Department re trustee fees and other matters. 10 pages. read the submission
December 2009
To Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee re Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Bill 2009. 17 pages. read the submission
Credit
July 2010
To ASIC responding to their draft report "Consumer Credit Legal Services in Australia" will be uploaded when available. 3 pages. read the submission
September 2009
To ASIC re Consultation Paper 112 "Dispute Resolution Requirements for Consumer Credit and Margin Lending". 4 pages. read the submission
Income Management
February 2010
To Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs re Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009. 11 pages. read the submission