ASIC spotlights how car loans cause deep consumer harms
Consumer advocates nationwide have welcomed the release of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) report ‘Lifting the bonnet: ASIC’s review of car loans’. ASIC’s Indigenous Outreach Program reviewed car loans from eight across a two-year period from March 2023 – 2025 and have painted a comprehensive and troubling picture of the consumer harm fuelled […]
Celebrating National Reconciliation Week at Financial Rights
National Reconciliation week is held annually from 27 May to 3 June. It is a time that encourages all Australians to actively come on a journey towards creating meaningful change and an inclusive Australia, strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and first Nations peoples, acknowledging our unique histories, cultures, and achievements. The […]
Car finance practices under the microscope find plenty of areas for improvement
ASIC’s early review findings about car finance failures come as little surprise to Financial Rights Legal Centre and Mob Strong Debt Help. Our services spend a significant amount of time and resources assisting clients with problems related to their car finance arrangements, and the interim findings released by ASIC today directly reflect the experiences of […]
Court Finds Money3 Breached Responsible Lending Laws: Consumer Advocates Welcome Outcome
In a decision handed down on Friday, the Federal Court has found that car lender Money3 breached responsible lending laws. The case, brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), revealed failures by Money3 to comply with its obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act in relation to 6 people who had taken out loans […]
Media Release: Centrepay will no longer be a vehicle for financial abuse
Consumer advocates welcome reforms to Government payment service The Financial Rights Legal Centre, Mob Strong Debt Help, Consumer Action Law Centre, CHOICE, Anglicare NT and Economic Justice Australia welcome the finalised reforms to Centrepay announced by Minister Katy Gallagher this morning. These reforms include important consumer protections that consumer advocates across the country have been […]
First Nations peoples locked out of super system – new report reveals urgent need for reform
A major new report released today reveals that Australia’s $4 trillion superannuation system is failing First Nations peoples – denying many access to their own money in retirement, during financial hardship or after the death of a loved one. This means that First Nations Australians are more likely to miss out on the benefits of […]
Building Futures not Barriers: Super That Works
This new report looks closely at barriers First Nations people face when accessing their super. What did the report ask for? Super funds should help First Nations people overcome ID barriers When people call their super fund, they should be culturally safe, and there should be mandatory customer service standards. The ATO and super funds […]
Stress and stretching the dollar – impacts of financial hardship
On the 27th June 2025 Bettina Cooper, Mob Strong Senior Financial Counselling and Strategy Lead, had the opportunity of attending the 2025 National Consumer Congress, participating on the panel Stress and stretching the dollar – impacts of financial hardship moderated by Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Together with fellow […]
First Nations advocates call for super funds to end the harm and commit to mandatory customer service standards
Advocates say the only thing super funds do well is take our money. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) report into superannuation claims handling released this week revealed widespread delays and distress, particularly for First Nations families. Leading First Nations advocates are calling on parliamentarians to commit to legislated mandatory customer service standards in […]
Advocates welcome continued ban on use of Centrepay by business operating in remote Australia, and call for broader Centrepay reform
First Nations and other consumer advocates have welcomed the extension of ASIC’s interim Stop Order on Coral Coast Distributors (Cairns) Ptd Ltd trading as Urban Rampage (Urban Rampage) retail stores, where customers enter agreements to pay for goods on credit through Centrepay deductions. The original stop order was imposed because ASIC received complaints about Urban […]