The Morrison Government will ease responsible lending laws requiring banks to verify information from credit-seeking consumers, after the corporate regulator’s failed “wagyu and shiraz” case attacking Westpac’s lending practices.
Westpac has agreed to pay a whopping $1.3 billion civil penalty to resolve AUSTRAC enforcement action over the bank’s 23 million breaches of money laundering and counter-terrorism laws.
The director of the beleaguered Mayfair investment group, who has been self-represented in winding up proceedings by ASIC, has now entered into a late stage retainer with law firm Ashurst, with his barrister saying he could no longer manage the case on his own after the regulator filed a lengthy affidavit.
A maritime development company has had its discovery hopes dashed in its stayed competition lawsuit against NSW Ports, with a judge finding that the company would not suffer any injustice in waiting until the stay is lifted after a similar case brought by the competition regulator is heard.
A judge has ordered 17 companies connected to Mayfair’s “failed” IPO Wealth Fund to be wound up after finding the fund’s director put investor money at risk through “highly speculative” investments to make a windfall for himself.
A former general manager suing law firm Atanaskovic Hartnell has amended her pleadings as trial in her case resumes Friday, expanding her claims and including details of an email in which the firm’s managing partner allegedly slammed her practice of billing clients on a “menstrual based cycle”.
AUSTRAC has slugged US financial services giant State Street Bank and Trust Company with a $1.24 million fine for failing to report international funds transfers in breach of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws.
The Australian Competition Tribunal has shot down ACCC moves to restrict the use of buy now, pay later finance for the purchase of solar goods and other new energy technology products.
The ACCC has asked a court to impose a $3.5 million penalty against eyewear retailer Oscar Wylee for making misleading representations about its charitable donations and affiliations, including that it would donate one pair of eyeglasses to charity for every pair purchased.
The director of besieged investment group Mayfair 101 has called for an investigation into the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, calling a winding up proceeding brought by the financial watchdog “a form of malicious prosecution” based on a “flawed fundamental misunderstanding” and supported by an erroneous report from auditor Deloitte.