| Australians Lean Further Into Personal Credit Thu, 09 Jul: Australia’s appetite for personal credit has shown another lift, with the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest financial aggregates pointing to renewed momentum in May 2026. The data, released on 30 June, shows personal credit rose by 0.6 per cent over the month, up from 0.2 per cent in April. Over the year to May, personal credit was 4.4 per cent higher, compared with 2.9 per cent annual growth at the same point last year. - read more
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| Why Today's Mortgage Pain Is Not Just a Rate Story Thu, 09 Jul: Australian borrowers have fresh evidence that the current mortgage squeeze is about more than headline interest rates. New KPMG analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data, highlighted in the finance media this week, shows households are carrying one of the heaviest interest burdens recorded over the past four decades. - read more
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| What the Latest Rate Outlook Means for Caravan Buyers Thu, 09 Jul: Australia’s interest-rate outlook has become more uncertain, and that matters for anyone planning to buy, upgrade or refinance a caravan in the second half of 2026. Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 16 June decision to keep the cash rate at 4.35%, fresh July forecasts suggest borrowers should not assume relief is just around the corner. - read more
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| What July’s Lowest Car Loan Rates Mean for Buyers Thu, 09 Jul: Australian car buyers have a fresh reminder this week that the lowest advertised rate is not always the same as the cheapest loan. Canstar’s latest July 2026 car loan comparison update shows secured car loan offers starting from 5.67% for a $50,000 loan over five years, with MoneyPlace and Stratton Finance both appearing at that headline rate in the snapshot. However, their comparison rates differ, underlining why the total loan cost needs closer attention. - read more
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| Latest Boat Loan Comparisons Put Repayment Planning in Focus Thu, 09 Jul: Canstar’s latest boat loan comparison, updated on 8 July 2026, gives prospective Australian boat buyers a timely reminder that the cheapest-looking loan is not always the simplest or most affordable choice once fees, terms and eligibility settings are considered. - read more
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| Compensation Scheme Shortfall Raises Fresh Trust Questions Thu, 09 Jul: Australia’s Compensation Scheme of Last Resort has moved back into the spotlight after revised estimates showed a much larger funding need for the 2026-27 financial year.The scheme is designed to pay eligible consumers when a financial firm fails to meet an Australian Financial Complaints Authority determination, but the latest numbers point to a heavier burden than previously expected. - read more
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| Sydney Boat Show 2026 Gives Buyers a Timely Finance Reminder Wed, 08 Jul: Sydney’s biggest boating showcase is preparing to return to Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park from 30 July to 2 August 2026, with the Boating Industry Association confirming a broad line-up of more than 120 local and international exhibitors. For prospective buyers, the timing is important: major shows can create excitement, but they can also compress purchase decisions into a busy few days. - read more
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| Mortgage Rate Competition Heats Up for Australian Borrowers Wed, 08 Jul: Australian mortgage competition has taken a notable turn, with a growing group of lenders trimming selected home loan rates even after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s May cash rate increase. According to recent market reporting, 18 lenders have reduced at least some variable mortgage rates, while AMP Bank has made one of the sharper fixed-rate moves, cutting selected fixed rates by up to 0.50 percentage points. - read more
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| July Trade-In Offer Gives Riders a Timely Finance Checkpoint Wed, 08 Jul: TeamMoto has launched a July trade-up incentive for eligible Australian riders, offering an extra $500 when they trade in their current motorcycle and purchase an eligible new or pre-owned bike through the dealership network. The offer runs from 6 July to 31 July 2026 inclusive, unless extended, and applies only where the trade-in and purchase are completed as part of the same dealership transaction. - read more
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| What the Life Code Review Could Mean for Mental Health Claims Wed, 08 Jul: The latest review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice has put mental health cover at the centre of the national conversation about life insurance, disability insurance and income protection. Independent reviewer Peter Kell has completed his final report, outlining 85 recommendations aimed at improving customer protections, claims handling, communication, vulnerability support and the enforceability of the Code. - read more
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| What APRA’s Reinsurance Changes Mean for Boat Owners Wed, 08 Jul: APRA’s latest update to the general insurance reinsurance framework may sound like a back-office regulatory change, but it has practical relevance for Australian boat owners watching premiums, excesses and renewal conditions. Published on 7 July 2026, the reforms are designed to give general insurers better access to alternative reinsurance arrangements while keeping safeguards in place for policyholders. - read more
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| Could NSW Levy Reform Make Insurance More Affordable for Small Business? Wed, 08 Jul: New analysis released by the Insurance Council of Australia has put renewed attention on a major cost pressure for NSW businesses: the emergency services levy, commonly known as the ESL. The levy is currently collected through insurance premiums, meaning businesses that choose to insure their assets can face a higher cost for doing so. - read more
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| Could NSW Emergency Services Levy Reform Make Insurance Fairer? Wed, 08 Jul: New modelling released on 7 July 2026 has added momentum to the debate over how New South Wales funds emergency services, with analysis suggesting that removing the Emergency Services Levy from insurance premiums could deliver meaningful savings for many households and businesses. The findings, commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia and prepared by Lateral Economics, support a shift away from loading the cost onto insurance policies and towards a broader property-based funding model. - read more
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| New Payment Checks Give Australians a Scam Safety Prompt Wed, 08 Jul: Australia’s banking sector is seeing early evidence that name-matching technology can change customer behaviour before money leaves an account.Australian Payments Plus says the Confirmation of Payee service has led to large numbers of transfers being abandoned, including half a million at one bank alone, after customers were prompted to re-check recipient details. - read more
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| Falling Cyber Cover Uptake Sends a Warning to Beauty Operators Wed, 08 Jul: A new cybercrime update has put a timely spotlight on a risk that many beauty businesses still treat as secondary to slips, burns, allergic reactions or damaged equipment. The Australian Institute of Criminology’s latest Cybercrime in Australia report, released on 30 June 2026 and covered by Insurance Business Australia, found that cyber insurance uptake has fallen even as online threats remain widespread. - read more
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| What Rising Construction Liability Costs Mean for Tradies Wed, 08 Jul: New analysis of APRA’s National Claims and Policies Database has put a sharper focus on a familiar concern for many construction businesses: liability insurance costs are not easing evenly across the market. While some professional indemnity lines have softened, the public liability picture for construction remains more challenging. - read more
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| Could Falling House Prices Help First Home Buyers? Wed, 08 Jul: Australia’s housing slowdown is no longer just a Sydney and Melbourne story. Fresh reporting on the property market points to falling national dwelling values in June, with Sydney and Melbourne leading the decline and growth cooling in several other capitals. For first home buyers, that sounds like welcome news after years of rising prices, stretched deposits and fierce competition for entry-level homes. - read more
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| Why Risk Commission Reform Matters for Business Owners Wed, 08 Jul: A fresh industry poll has put life insurance remuneration back in the spotlight, with a strong majority of advisers reportedly supporting a review of the Life Insurance Framework commission caps. The current hybrid model, commonly described as 60/20, limits upfront and ongoing commissions on life risk insurance and has shaped how personal and business protection advice is delivered since the reforms were phased in. - read more
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| Life insurer profits have softened — why business owners should pay attention Wed, 08 Jul: Australia’s life insurance sector entered the 2026 financial year with a clear reminder that market conditions can shift quickly. APRA’s latest quarterly figures for the three months to 31 March 2026 show life insurers remained profitable, but earnings were noticeably softer than the previous quarter and the same period a year earlier. - read more
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| Reducing Life Insurance Cover? New AFCA Case Shows Why Warnings Matter Wed, 08 Jul: A recent Australian Financial Complaints Authority decision involving AIA Australia is a useful reminder that reducing life insurance or trauma cover is not always a simple cost-saving move. For families under pressure from rising household expenses, lowering a sum insured can feel practical in the moment. This case shows why the timing, policy wording and claims process should be checked carefully before any change is made. - read more
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| 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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Please Note: If this information affects you or is relevant to your circumstances, seek advice from a licensed professional.
