Labor releases bills on Hayne recommendations
Labor steps up pressure on the government to begin legislating on some of the proposed reforms
Labor releases bills on Hayne recommendations
INSURANCE NEWS
By Mina Martin
20 Feb 2019

The federal government faces increasing pressure to press ahead with the major recommendations from the Hayne royal commission, after Labor brought forward draft laws it said could be passed this week.

The new bills seek to remove exemptions for funeral expenses policies, scrap the claims-handling exemption for insurance companies, apply consumer credit protections to salespeople, give corporate regulator ASIC authority over insurance claims, and force greater cooperation with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority when settling disputes.

Labor leader Bill Shorten urged the federal government to start legislating the five reforms he said would prevent “shameful exploitation,” but the government wants to respond to all 76 royal commission recommendations at once and after the election, expected in May, to “ensure there are no unintended consequences,” AFR and The Guardian reported.

“If not now, when? If not, why not?” Shorten said.

Claire O’Neil, Labor’s financial service spokeswoman, said some of Hayne’s recommendations were “absolutely simple” and that there was “no excuse” not to push ahead with the reforms proposed in the three private member bills.

For the bills to be considered before the election, Labor needs key crossbench MPs, including Bob Katter and Andrew Wilkie, to commit to two extra sitting weeks of Parliament in March. The bills require 76 votes to be implemented.

“We know that there will be problems with insurance records,” Shorten said. “We know that there will be problems for funeral insurance. We know that there will be problems with dodgy car loans. But [Katter] needs to explain… Why would we turn a blind eye and let it go for another six months?”

Related Stories
Free newsletter

We'll keep you up-to-date with the latest breaking news, cutting edge opinion, and expert analysis affecting both your business and the industry as whole.

Free newsletter

Our daily newsletter is FREE and keeps you up - to - date with the world of Insurance. Please complete the form below and click on subscribe for daily newsletters from IB AU.