| Why Borrowers Should Revisit Loan Costs This Financial Year Tue, 07 Jul: New research highlighted by Money magazine has reopened an important debate for Australian borrowers: which generation has faced the toughest loan burden, and what does that mean for people applying for finance today? - read more
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| What July’s Rate Pause Means for Motorbike Loan Shoppers Tue, 07 Jul: Australian borrowers have entered July 2026 with a little more breathing space, after the Reserve Bank of Australia left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35 per cent at its 16 June meeting. Money.com.au’s latest July lending update indicates variable home loan rates have remained broadly steady, with some lenders still advertising rates below 6 per cent for eligible mortgage borrowers. - read more
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| Car Finance Fees Under Scrutiny as ASIC Flags Borrower Risks Tue, 07 Jul: ASIC’s latest review of the motor vehicle finance sector is a timely reminder that the true cost of borrowing can sit well beyond the advertised interest rate. While the review focused on car loans, the lessons apply to many Australians considering small personal loans, short term finance or any borrowing arranged through a third party. - read more
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| What Bushfire Resilience Ratings Mean for Farmers Tue, 07 Jul: More Australian insurers are now recognising household bushfire resilience ratings, a development rural and regional property owners should watch closely as risk-based pricing becomes more visible across the insurance market. NAB and CommBank insurance brands have joined the program, alongside existing participants including NRMA Insurance and Suncorp, meaning a significant share of the home insurance market is now engaging with assessed bushfire mitigation. - read more
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| Business Borrowing Stays Strong as May Credit Data Lands Tue, 07 Jul: The latest Reserve Bank of Australia financial aggregates show that borrowing demand has remained resilient, with business credit again leading the way. Released on 30 June 2026, the May figures show total credit rising by 0.7% over the month and 8.2% over the year. Within that, lending to non-financial businesses rose 1.0% in May and 9.9% across the year, outpacing both housing and personal credit. - read more
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| Why Perth’s 2026 Boat Show Matters for Buyers Tue, 07 Jul: The 2026 Perth Boat Show is shaping as a useful barometer for Western Australia’s recreational boating appetite, with organisers positioning the event as one of the state’s strongest marine showcases in recent years. Scheduled for Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September 2026 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the show is expected to fill all six pavilions and bring together more than 90 exhibitors. - read more
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| Small Business Tax Debt Crackdown Sharpens Cash Flow Focus Tue, 07 Jul: Australian small businesses may soon face a more disciplined tax debt collection environment, after the Australian National Audit Office found the ATO needs clearer targets for reducing collectable small business debt. The issue is substantial: small business collectable tax debt stood at $35.9 billion in 2024-25, representing about two-thirds of total collectable tax debt. - read more
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| PSC Move Signals Stronger Competition in Transport Insurance Broking Tue, 07 Jul: PSC Insurance Brokers’ investment in MA Insurance Brokers is a timely reminder that specialist transport insurance advice is becoming increasingly valuable in a tighter, more complex market. The deal, announced in late June 2026, sees MA begin operating as PSC Transport Insurance Brokers, while founders Barry Mathison and Mariann Illyes retain an equity stake and continue leading the business as managing principals. - read more
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| QBE’s Trade Pack Change Puts Renewals in Focus for Tradies Tue, 07 Jul: QBE’s decision to stop offering its standalone office and trade pack products from July 2026 is a timely reminder for Australian tradies to treat every renewal as more than a simple rollover. The insurer is moving customers towards a standard business cover structure, with existing trade pack policyholders expected to be offered the replacement product at renewal from October 2026. - read more
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| What the Latest Adviser Exam Results Mean for Australians Tue, 07 Jul: Australia’s financial advice sector has entered the new financial year with a mixed signal: new advisers are continuing to pass the professional exam at a steady rate, but the overall adviser pool remains under pressure. - read more
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| Road User Charging Reform: What It Could Mean for Truck Operators Mon, 06 Jul: Road user charging is moving from policy theory to a more serious industry conversation, with a new ITS Australia survey pointing to growing support for replacing fuel excise with a distance-based funding model. For transport operators, this is not just a tax discussion. It could change how fleets calculate running costs, compare vehicle types and plan margins on long-term freight contracts. - read more
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| Stolen Tools Ruling Shows Why Policy Limits Matter Mon, 06 Jul: A recent Australian Financial Complaints Authority decision is a timely warning for trade businesses that rely on tools, trailers and mobile equipment every day. The dispute centred on a business that had tools and a trailer stolen from a worksite, then challenged the insurer’s payout after discovering the claim was limited by the portable items section of the policy. - read more
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| Farizon F3E Arrives as a Practical Electric Work Truck Option Mon, 06 Jul: Farizon has put a sharper price point under Australia’s growing electric commercial vehicle market, with its new F3E electric cab chassis listed from $48,990. For small businesses, delivery operators, tradies and service fleets, the launch adds another option between a van and a traditional light truck at a time when operating costs are under close scrutiny. - read more
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| Adviser Levy Pressure Puts PI Reform Back in Focus Mon, 06 Jul: The Financial Advice Association Australia has renewed pressure on the Federal Government to limit Compensation Scheme of Last Resort costs for financial advisers, arguing the profession should not carry more than $20 million in total levy exposure while adviser numbers remain under strain. - read more
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| What the CSLR Funding Blowout Means for Investors Mon, 06 Jul: Australia’s financial advice sector is again under scrutiny after the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort released a sharply higher funding estimate for the 2027 financial year. The scheme now expects a total levy requirement of $198.1 million, with $190.3 million attributed to personal financial advice claims. Because that advice sub-sector has a $20 million annual levy cap, the balance points to a substantial special levy debate across the broader financial services industry. - read more
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| New Strata Broking Findings Raise the Bar for Trust Mon, 06 Jul: Fresh findings from the Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee have added another layer to Australia’s continuing strata insurance transparency debate. The committee’s review of strata broker-agent arrangements examined seven brokers collectively connected to one thousand and eighty-eight strata representatives, and resulted in nine formal breach determinations. Two brokers were also referred to ASIC for consideration of conflict management issues. - read more
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| Why Micro-Rating Matters for Your Next Shop Insurance Renewal Mon, 06 Jul: Australia’s commercial insurance market is entering a more nuanced phase. While headline pricing indicators suggest conditions are easing for many business customers, a recent Insurance Business Australia report highlights a shift away from the old idea of one broad insurance cycle. Instead, pricing is increasingly being assessed by product line, geography, occupation, claims history and the quality of each risk submission. - read more
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| School Holiday Travel Highlights a New Test for Insurance Cover Sun, 05 Jul: Australia’s winter school holiday rush has put travel insurance back in the spotlight, with families heading to Bali, Fiji and Thailand, skiers travelling to New Zealand and domestic holidaymakers chasing either snow or sunshine closer to home. But this year’s peak period is unfolding against a more unsettled backdrop: geopolitical tension, airspace closures, airline disruption and a growing expectation that insurers should do more than reimburse costs after the event. - read more
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| Strata Insurance Breaches Put Transparency Back in the Spotlight Sun, 05 Jul: The latest scrutiny of strata insurance arrangements is a timely reminder that insurance governance is no longer a back-office issue for property professionals. On 30 June 2026, the Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee released findings from a review of broker-agent arrangements in strata insurance. The review examined seven brokers with 1,088 strata representatives and identified weaknesses across representative agreements, remuneration disclosure, conflict management and oversight of conduct. - read more
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| Why Insurance Pricing Is Becoming More Client-Specific Sun, 05 Jul: Australia’s commercial insurance market may be softening on the surface, but the latest industry commentary suggests small businesses should be cautious about assuming every policy will automatically become cheaper. The emerging message is that the old idea of a single hard or soft insurance market is giving way to a more targeted pricing environment, where insurers assess each line of cover, occupation, location and claims history in much greater detail. - read more
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| What Haven’s New Liability Offering Means for Restaurants Sun, 05 Jul: Australian hospitality operators have another liability option to watch, after Haven Underwriting added broadform liability cover to its product line-up, backed by capacity from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance. The product is aimed at several customer groups, including cafés, restaurants, wine bars and associated hospitality risks, with a stated limit of up to $20 million per policy. - read more
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| Compensation Scheme Funding Gap Puts Advice Risks in Focus Sun, 05 Jul: Australia’s financial safety net for victims of misconduct is under fresh pressure, with the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort facing a major funding gap linked to failed investment and advice arrangements. The latest figures point to a revised FY2027 estimate of $198.1 million, with personal financial advice claims accounting for $190.3 million of that total. - read more
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| Cyclone Pool Delivers Some Relief for High-Risk Strata Schemes Sun, 05 Jul: The ACCC’s fifth and final insurance monitoring report has given strata committees in cyclone-exposed regions a clearer view of what the Cyclone Reinsurance Pool is—and is not—achieving. Released on 25 June 2026, the report found that the pool has helped reduce or moderate premiums for policyholders in higher cyclone-risk areas, including residential strata schemes. - read more
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| Tesla and BYD Power a Record Month for Australian EV Buyers Sun, 05 Jul: Australia’s electric vehicle market has moved into a new phase, with June 2026 delivering a standout result led by Tesla and BYD. Industry reporting shows battery electric vehicles reached about 23.4 per cent of new-vehicle sales for the month, while the two biggest EV brands delivered more than 19,000 electric cars between them. For households comparing a petrol replacement with an electric upgrade, this is more than a sales milestone. - read more
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| Leapmotor B05 Brings Sub-$40K EV Choice to Australian Buyers Sun, 05 Jul: Australia’s affordable electric vehicle market is about to gain another serious contender, with Leapmotor confirming local pricing and specifications for the new B05 electric hatchback ahead of its late August showroom arrival. For buyers who have been waiting for more choice below the $40,000 mark, the headline is simple: the B05 will start from $35,990 drive-away. - read more
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Please Note: If this information affects you or is relevant to your circumstances, seek advice from a licensed professional.
