Insolvency Practices Inquiry
Submission to: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman
Related Projects
Making Insurance Claims handling a Financial Service
The Financial Services Royal Commission recommended improvements in consumer protection for insurance claims handling. We support that recommendation and the draft legislation to implement it.
The proposed changes will ensure that insurance claims are covered under the definition of “Financial Service” in the Corporations Act and improve disclosure when settling an insurance claim. This will be beneficial for people claiming on their insurance policies.
Additional protections are needed in the proposed laws however, to protect people from exploitation, including extending the legislation to include paid claims handling services and life insurance. There should also be additional protections for people settling an insurance claim following a natural disaster.
Financial Sector Reform Bill 2022 – Compensation Scheme of Last Resort and Financial Accountability Regime
Joint consumer group submission (led by Choice) about specific components of the Financial Sector Reform Bill. In relation to a compensation scheme of last resort, the submission recommends expanding the scope of the proposed scheme including managed investment schemes, funeral expenses policies and relevant court and tribunal decisions. The compensation cap for the CSLR needs to be the same at that for the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. In relation to the Financial Accountability Regime, the Bill needs to provide for civil penalties, the deferred remuneration obligations need to be strengthened, the scope of the regime should expand to include senior executives and managers and this group should also (as in the UK) be required to treat customers fairly.