NCCPA (Small Amount Credit Contract and Consumer Lease Reforms) Bill 2009
Submission to: Senate Economics Committee
Related Projects
The Bankruptcy System and the Impacts of Coronavirus – Discussion Paper
Submission to: Attorney-General’s Department
Joint consumer group submission (led by Financial Rights Legal Centre) response to a discussion paper from the Federal Attorney-General’s Department. The submission recommends that the default period for bankruptcy should reduce to 1 year (and if so, changes should also be made to the credit reporting system), that charging fees for bankruptcy advice should be banned, the Bankruptcy Act should be amended so that people who later experience further financial hardship can apply to reduce their contributions and that all small business lenders should be members of AFCA. The submission also makes a raft of recommendations in relation to debt agreements, including that the income, debt and asset thresholds should not increase, that the term limit remain the same and that bankrupts be allowed to keep compensation awarded by AFCA. Other recommendations includes that payments from TPD insurance should be protected in bankruptcy, bankrupts should be able to retain accumulated savings, once they have met their income contributions and the fees charged by bankruptcy trustees should be subject to a review as well as greater auditing and enforcement from AFSA. Financial counselling should be available in all Federal Circuit Courts (based on the approach in the Melbourne registry).
Joint consumer group submission (led by Financial Rights Legal Centre) response to a discussion paper from the Federal Attorney-General’s Department. The submission recommends that the default period for bankruptcy should reduce to 1 year (and if so, changes should also be made to the credit reporting system), that charging fees for bankruptcy advice should be banned, the Bankruptcy Act should be amended so that people who later experience further financial hardship can apply to reduce their contributions and that all small business lenders should be members of AFCA. The submission also makes a raft of recommendations in relation to debt agreements, including that the income, debt and asset thresholds should not increase, that the term limit remain the same and that bankrupts be allowed to keep compensation awarded by AFCA. Other recommendations includes that payments from TPD insurance should be protected in bankruptcy, bankrupts should be able to retain accumulated savings, once they have met their income contributions and the fees charged by bankruptcy trustees should be subject to a review as well as greater auditing and enforcement from AFSA. Financial counselling should be available in all Federal Circuit Courts (based on the approach in the Melbourne registry).
A Stronger, More Diverse and Independent Community Sector
Submission to: Department of Social Services
Joint financial counselling sector submission responding to five focus areas: giving the community sector the respect it deserves, providing grants that reflect the real cost of service delivery, providing longer grant agreements, ensuring grants flow to a wider diversity of organisations and partnering with trusted community organisations with strong local links. Our sector very much welcomes this discussion paper and the potential for re-setting the relationship between government and the community sector.
Joint financial counselling sector submission responding to five focus areas: giving the community sector the respect it deserves, providing grants that reflect the real cost of service delivery, providing longer grant agreements, ensuring grants flow to a wider diversity of organisations and partnering with trusted community organisations with strong local links. Our sector very much welcomes this discussion paper and the potential for re-setting the relationship between government and the community sector.