| NSW strata charger reforms could reshape apartment EV budgeting Wed, 28 Oct: NSW has moved closer to making apartment EV charging a practical part of vehicle ownership, with the Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2026 assented on 23 October and government guidance indicating further reforms planned to start in 2027. For electric vehicle buyers in strata buildings, the change is not just a property-law update; it could affect how households think about finance, charging access and the real cost of switching from petrol to electric. - read more
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| Why early super access is becoming a harder financial choice Wed, 28 Oct: Australia’s early-release superannuation safety valve is under renewed scrutiny after fresh 2025-26 figures showed $1.46 billion was approved for release on compassionate grounds, with medical treatment and transport accounting for about $1.42 billion of that total. For households facing pain, illness or unaffordable treatment, the appeal is obvious. The harder issue is that every early withdrawal also reduces money set aside for retirement, often decades before the final cost is known. - read more
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| Broker Review Puts Loan Recommendations Under Fresh Scrutiny Wed, 28 Oct: ASIC’s latest review of mortgage broker conduct has put a spotlight on how loan recommendations are explained, documented and challenged when a cheaper option is available. Although the review focused on home loan brokers, the practical lesson is broader: borrowers should understand not only the advertised rate, but also why a particular loan structure, lender or feature is being presented as suitable. - read more
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| Charging Access Becomes a Bigger Part of Electric Truck Funding Wed, 28 Oct: Australia’s electric truck conversation has shifted from vehicle availability alone to the practical question of where, when and how commercial vehicles will charge. Ampol’s October 2026 activity has made that shift clearer, with the company announcing a proposed acquisition of Evie Networks and a separate memorandum of understanding with Foton Mobility Distribution to explore charging solutions for electric commercial vehicles. - read more
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| Income Protection Complaints Remain a Key Life Insurance Pressure Point Wed, 28 Oct: The Australian Financial Complaints Authority’s latest annual review has put income protection insurance back in focus, with the product again attracting the highest number of life insurance complaints in 2025-26. The figures are a useful reminder that the real value of cover is tested not at purchase, but when illness or injury interrupts a person’s capacity to earn. - read more
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| ASIC Review Highlights the Need to Question Costlier Loan Recommendations Wed, 28 Oct: ASIC’s 13 October 2026 review of major mortgage broker groups has delivered a timely reminder for borrowers: a loan recommendation should be understandable, evidence-based and clearly connected to the customer’s needs. The regulator found that broker practices generally aligned with its guidance, but also identified gaps in how some higher-cost loan recommendations, supervision processes and complaints were handled. - read more
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| Off-Road Boom Changes the Motorcycle Budget Conversation Wed, 28 Oct: Australia’s motorcycle market is ahead of last year after the first nine months of 2026, but the latest FCAI-audited figures point to a recovery driven mainly by off-road demand rather than a uniform lift across every type of bike. For riders thinking about motorbike finance, that distinction matters because the practical costs attached to a trail bike, junior motorcycle, scooter or road machine can look very different once purchase price, transport, gear, insurance and maintenance are considered together. - read more
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| Farm Flood Dispute Shows the Cost of Delayed Claims Handling Wed, 28 Oct: A recent Australian Financial Complaints Authority determination involving a flooded farmhouse has put claims handling back under the microscope for rural policyholders, after the insurer was ordered to pay almost $432,000 across building repairs, additional temporary accommodation, professional costs and compensation for non-financial loss. The decision, dated 27 August 2026 and reported by Insurance News on 15 October 2026, is a useful reminder that the practical aftermath of a farm flood can extend well beyond the first clean-up. - read more
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| Card Surcharge Ban Adds New Cash Flow Test for Small Firms Wed, 28 Oct: Australia’s new card surcharge rules have turned a small checkout fee into a wider cash flow question for consumers and small businesses. Since 1 October 2026, businesses have generally been unable to add card payment surcharges for major card networks, making payments look simpler at the counter but leaving operators to decide how remaining merchant costs fit into their pricing, margins and budgeting. - read more
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| Why the September Rate Rise Changes Loan Planning Wed, 28 Oct: The Reserve Bank of Australia’s 29 September 2026 decision to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60 per cent has put borrowing costs back at the centre of household and business planning. While the cash rate is not the only factor behind loan pricing, it influences funding costs and can flow through to variable rates, new fixed-rate offers and lender appetite for risk. - read more
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| Truck Claim Dispute Shows Disclosure Evidence Matters Sat, 24 Oct: A recent Australian Financial Complaints Authority decision involving a vandalised Hino truck is a useful reminder that disclosure disputes in commercial motor insurance turn on evidence, not assumptions. Reported by insuranceNEWS.com.au on 15 October 2026, the matter ended with Suncorp being ordered to reinstate the policy and reassess the claim after AFCA found the insurer had not proved that undisclosed driving history would have justified refusing the risk. - read more
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| Higher Cash Rate Raises the Bar for Loan Affordability Sat, 24 Oct: The Reserve Bank of Australia's decision on 29 September 2026 to lift the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.60 per cent has put loan affordability back in focus for households and small business operators already managing higher everyday costs. While the cash rate does not mechanically set every personal loan or short-term credit price, it influences funding costs, lender risk settings and the way borrowers think about repayment buffers. - read more
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| Borrowers Remain Resilient, but the RBA Is Watching the Edges Sat, 24 Oct: The Reserve Bank of Australia’s October 2026 Financial Stability Review gives borrowers a mixed but useful message: the financial system remains broadly resilient, yet cost pressures, hardship requests and sector-specific business stress are still important warning signs for households and SMEs planning their next finance decision. - read more
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