| APRA's New Cap on High Debt-to-Income Home Loans: What Borrowers Need to Know Fri, 19 Dec: The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced a significant policy change aimed at curbing potential risks in the housing market. Effective February 2026, APRA will implement a cap on high debt-to-income (DTI) home loans, limiting such loans to 20% of new home lending portfolios. This move is designed to address concerns over escalating property prices and accelerated credit growth. - read more
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| Afterpay Users Advised to Close Accounts for Mortgage Approval: A Closer Look Fri, 19 Dec: Afterpay, a leading Australian buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) provider, has raised concerns over certain banking practices affecting its users. Reports indicate that some customers were advised to close their BNPL accounts to qualify for mortgages, only to be subsequently offered credit cards by the same financial institutions. - read more
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| Australia's Big Four Banks Shift Away from Mortgage Brokers: What It Means for Borrowers Fri, 19 Dec: Australia's major banks—Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac, and ANZ—are undergoing a strategic shift by reducing their reliance on mortgage brokers. This move aims to protect profit margins in the face of low interest rates, rising operational costs, and intense competition in the home loan market. - read more
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| December 2025 Sees a Dip in Australian Consumer Confidence Fri, 19 Dec: In December 2025, Australia's consumer sentiment experienced a notable decline, reversing the positive momentum observed in the previous month. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute index fell by 9% to 94.5, indicating a shift back into pessimism among consumers. This downturn is primarily attributed to renewed concerns over inflation and the outlook for interest rates. - read more
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| APRA's New Cap on High DTI Home Loans: What Borrowers Need to Know Fri, 19 Dec: The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced a significant policy change aimed at curbing high-risk lending practices within the housing market. Effective from 1 February 2026, APRA will implement a cap limiting banks to issuing no more than 20% of new home loans with debt-to-income (DTI) ratios of six times or higher. This measure applies to both owner-occupier and investor loans, excluding new housing developments. - read more
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| RBA's Cash Rate Strategy: Stability Amid Inflationary Pressures Fri, 19 Dec: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is expected to maintain its cash rate at 3.6% during its upcoming December meeting and continue this stance through 2026. This projection marks a shift from earlier expectations of potential rate cuts in 2026, influenced by higher-than-anticipated inflation figures and a robust economic performance. - read more
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| Zone RV's Administration Signals Industry Challenges Fri, 19 Dec: The Australian caravan industry has recently faced significant upheaval with the voluntary administration of Zone RV, a prominent luxury off-road caravan manufacturer based on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. This development has left approximately 250 employees and numerous customers in a state of uncertainty, particularly as the holiday season approaches. - read more
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| Caravan Parks Thrive with Rising Occupancy Rates Fri, 19 Dec: Amidst economic uncertainties, the Australian caravan and camping sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with occupancy rates climbing across all accommodation types. In October 2025, cabin occupancy surged to 69% nationwide—a substantial four-point increase compared to October 2024. Powered sites saw a three-point rise to 52%, while unpowered sites reached 22% occupancy. - read more
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| ASIC Identifies Critical Issues in Australia's Car Finance Sector Fri, 19 Dec: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has recently conducted a comprehensive review of the motor vehicle finance sector, uncovering significant concerns regarding lending practices. This examination has highlighted issues such as exorbitant establishment fees and a troubling rate of early loan defaults, raising questions about the adequacy of current lending standards. - read more
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| Australian Used Car Market Experiences Significant Supply Surge Fri, 19 Dec: The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), in collaboration with AutoGrab, has released the Mid-2025 Automotive Insights Report, revealing a substantial increase in the supply of used cars in the Australian market. The first half of 2025 saw 1,589,491 vehicles listed for sale, marking an over 30% rise compared to the same period in 2024. This surge in supply is reshaping market dynamics and influencing pricing trends. - read more
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| New Government Initiative Offers Low-Interest Loans for Electric Vehicles Fri, 19 Dec: In a significant move to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) among Australian businesses, the government has announced a $50 million partnership with Metro Finance to provide low-interest loans for the purchase of EVs. This initiative is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in transitioning to cleaner transportation options, thereby reducing emissions and energy costs. - read more
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| December Sees Decline in Used Car Sales and Values, Reports AADA Fri, 19 Dec: The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) has released its December 2025 Automotive Insight Report (AIR), revealing a notable downturn in the used car market. After a period of oversupply, the market experienced a 3.8% reduction in listings, bringing the total to 322,532 vehicles. Despite this decrease in supply, sales figures declined more sharply by 8.1%, totaling 181,724 units for the month. - read more
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| Heightened Road Risks During Holiday Season: Insurers Issue Warnings Fri, 19 Dec: As the Australian summer school holidays coincide with peak freight activity, insurers and transport specialists are raising concerns about heightened road risks. The surge in freight traffic, coupled with increased holiday travel, amplifies the potential for road incidents, particularly involving heavy vehicles. - read more
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| Rising Collision Risks Challenge Australian Fleet Operators Fri, 19 Dec: Australia's transport and haulage sector is currently navigating a period of heightened operational risk, marked by an uptick in both the frequency and severity of motor collision claims. This trend underscores the pressing need for fleet operators to adopt proactive risk management strategies and leverage advanced insurance solutions to safeguard their operations. - read more
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| APRA's New Cap on High Debt-to-Income Home Loans: What Borrowers Need to Know Thu, 18 Dec: The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced a significant policy change aimed at mitigating emerging risks in the housing market. Effective February 2026, APRA will impose a cap on high debt-to-income (DTI) home loans, limiting banks to issuing no more than 20% of new home loans with DTI ratios of six times or higher. This measure applies to both owner-occupier and investor loans, excluding new housing developments. - read more
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| Commonwealth Bank Raises Alarm on Unsustainable Home Loan Demand Thu, 18 Dec: The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the nation's largest lender, has recently voiced concerns regarding the escalating demand for home loans, suggesting that this surge may be contributing to unsustainable property price increases. CEO Matt Comyn highlighted that while the bank benefits from the current housing credit boom, a more moderate growth rate would better support long-term financial stability and housing affordability. - read more
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| Australian Home Prices Reach New Heights: Navigating the Affordability Challenge Thu, 18 Dec: In November 2025, Australia's housing market experienced a 1% month-on-month increase in home prices, bringing the national median value to A$888,941. This follows a 1.1% rise in October, indicating a persistent upward trend in property values. The growth was particularly pronounced in mid-sized state capitals, with Perth leading at a 2.4% increase. Sydney and Melbourne saw more modest gains of 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. - read more
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| BIA Advocates for Government Support Amidst Marine Industry Skills Shortage Thu, 18 Dec: The Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) has recently called upon all levels of Australian government to provide strategic support to the nation's marine manufacturing and recreational boating sector. This appeal comes in response to a significant skills shortage that poses a threat to the industry's economic potential. - read more
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| Australian Boating Industry Poised for $20 Billion Expenditure by 2030 Thu, 18 Dec: The Boating Industry Association (BIA) has released the National Recreational Boating Statement, providing a comprehensive overview of the sector's scale, value, and future projections. The statement forecasts that by 2030, Australians will spend $20 billion annually on boating activities, underscoring the industry's significant economic and social impact. - read more
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| Harley-Davidson Explores Sale of Financing Unit Stake Thu, 18 Dec: Harley-Davidson, the iconic American motorcycle manufacturer, is reportedly in discussions to sell a stake in its financing unit, Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS). This move could have significant implications for motorcycle financing options available to consumers. - read more
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| Peter Stevens Motorcycles Faces Financial Crisis Thu, 18 Dec: Peter Stevens Motorcycles, a cornerstone of Australia's motorcycle retail industry since 1970, has entered voluntary administration, revealing debts exceeding $65.9 million. This development casts uncertainty over the future of the company's 400 employees and its extensive customer base. - read more
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| Australian Life Insurance Premiums Set for 1.7% Growth in 2025 Thu, 18 Dec: According to a recent report by Swiss Re, Australia's life insurance market is projected to experience a 1.7% real growth in premiums in 2025. This anticipated increase is attributed to easing cost-of-living pressures and the repricing of disability income policies. - read more
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| TAL's Health Sense Plus Now Covers Income Protection Policies Thu, 18 Dec: In a significant development for policyholders, TAL has expanded its Health Sense Plus program to encompass income protection (IP) policies. This initiative, effective from August 8, 2025, aims to incentivize proactive health management by offering premium discounts to clients who engage in preventive health checks. - read more
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| Pelagic Risk Services Strengthens Commitment to Marinas with Gold Sponsorship Thu, 18 Dec: In a significant move to bolster support for the marina industry, Pelagic Risk Services has elevated its sponsorship status from Silver to Gold with the Marina Industries Association (MIA). This advancement underscores Pelagic's dedication to enhancing the operational capabilities and risk management strategies of marina operators across Australia. - read more
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| Marinex Underwriting Sets Sail in Australian Marine Insurance Market Thu, 18 Dec: Rhodian Group has announced the launch of Marinex Underwriting, a new agency dedicated to providing specialized marine insurance products tailored to the Australian market. This initiative marks Rhodian's third agency launch, following the establishment of Halo Underwriting and Batch Underwriting in previous years. - read more
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