The corporate regulator has found Australians are getting “extremely poor value for money” on their consumer credit insurance. The “junk” insurance, offered by banks, helps to cover loans or credit card repayments if a person becomes unable to pay due to illness or unemployment. But the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has found in […]

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg insists the government is on track to deliver a surplus after meeting with the Reserve Bank Governor. In a meeting with the Treasurer today, Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe endorsed the government’s economic plan, agreeing the economy is growing and the fundamentals “are strong’’. Some economists are concerned the government tax cuts […]

Blackmores is determined to strengthen its business after concerns over low profitability and a volatile share price. The vitamin giant has announced Alastair Symington as its new CEO from October 1 this year. Chairman Brent Wallace tells Ross Greenwood the new CEO has a lot of experience with Chinese markets. “We want to be able […]

The Queensland government has banned combustible cladding on building projects as it is too risky to insure and use. Certifiers will be allowed to continue to work with professional indemnity insurance but it will exclude combustible cladding. The combustible cladding ban would extend to all aluminium composite panels which have a polyethylene core of more […]

The Minister for Industry, Science and Technology says states and territories have refused to work together on a national approach to save the construction industry. Following structural issues with the Opal and Mascot towers, there are fears insurers will no longer provide protection within the building industry. Surveyors, certifiers and architects are struggling to get […]

Housing markets in Sydney and Melbourne could be looking up as prices around the rest of the country continue to fall. Sydney experienced its first monthly increase in house prices since mid-2017. Both Sydney and Melbourne recorded a slight rise in June, up 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. CoreLogic Senior Research Analyst Cameron Kusher tells Ross […]