Australian tax board to review Islamic finance
24 May 2010
Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry has released the terms of reference for a tax review intended to support strong growth in demand for Islamic insurance, banking and finance products…
Regulatory & Government
APRA makes progress on capital standard reform
17 May 2010
The prudential regulator has achieved the first major outcome of a capital standard review process by releasing a discussion paper in support of its aim to improve capital standard consistency…
WorkCover SA appoints new CEO
17 May 2010
The man credited with turning around the fortunes of WorkCover NSW has been appointed to do the same thing in SA…
Vehicle write-off criteria expanded
17 May 2010
The national classification system for identifying written-off vehicles is to be expanded on the recommendations of a new report…
Federal Government relief for funded class actions
10 May 2010
The Federal Government says it will introduce regulations to avoid funded class actions being wrapped in corporate red tape…
APRA issues paper on tightened capital rules
10 May 2010
The prudential regulator has released a discussion paper proposing amendments to the prudential reporting standards as part of an international response to the global financial crisis…
OECD pushes for greater insurer scrutiny
10 May 2010
Insurers face heightened scrutiny following a declaration from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that the industry was partially responsible for the downfall…
New senior appointments at ASIC
10 May 2010
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has made two key appointments…
Government ignores insurance in Henry tax review response
03 May 2010
The Federal Government has ignored a recommendation to axe insurance taxes in its initial response to the Henry tax review…
COMMENT: No cause for applause
03 May 2010
While the associations covering the investment end of financial services have much to be happy about in the Henry report and the Federal Government’s response, the enthusiastic initial…
New Zealand to set up super-regulator
03 May 2010
The NZ Government will fast-track the development of a new super-regulator to oversee financial markets following the failure of a succession of local finance companies…
Australia, US sign disaster co-operation deal
03 May 2010
Australia and the US have agreed to strengthen emergency management co-operation and co-ordination following natural disasters and other civil emergencies…
Insurance anxiety over tax review
27 April 2010
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner is giving nothing away ahead of the Federal Government’s belated response to the Henry Tax review, saying nothing can be ruled out before its release…
Speculation rises over NZ’s state insurance monopoly
27 April 2010
Media speculation that the NZ Government will act to privatise its Accident Compensation Corporation monopoly is rising…
WA WorkCover premiums at historic lows
27 April 2010
Boom state WA has lowered premiums on compulsory worker’s compensation insurance to its lowest level on record…
Inquiry looks at disability insurance scheme
19 April 2010
The Productivity Commission has begun an inquiry into a long-term disability care and support system that will examine the merits of a social no-fault insurance scheme…
Black Saturday lawyers want levy abandoned
19 April 2010
Lawyers assisting Victoria’s Black Saturday inquiry have added their voice to growing calls for the fire services levy to be abolished…
Former Lombard directors face charges
19 April 2010
New Zealand’s Securities Commission has laid charges against the directors of Lombard Finance & Investments, the failed NZ finance firm whose parent shell has since been acquired…
APRA set to tighten insurers’ capital rules
12 April 2010
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has foreshadowed tough new regulatory capital standards, with local insurers facing terms that are “broadly consistent” with banks…
ASIC releases PI requirements
12 April 2010
Credit licensees will be required to hold PI cover for up to $2 million per claim under regulatory guidance released by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission…