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On 24 April 2012 Treasury has released proposed amendments to
the Consumer Credit and Corporations Legislation Amendment
(Enhancements) Bill 2011 (Cth) first presented to the
Commonwealth Parliament on 21 September 2011. The closing date for
submissions is 7 May 2012.
The key features of the amended Bill are as follows.
Summary of proposal
Suggested commencement date
New hardship provisions to make it easier for borrowers to
apply for hardship relief. Currently hardship applications apply
when the credit amount is $500K or less, but that limit will no
longer apply
1 March 2013
A prohibition on beginning enforcement action while a hardship
application is being heard and for 14 days after responding to a
postponement of enforcement application
1 March 2013
Courts can make orders to address unfair or dishonest conduct
by finance brokers, but any such orders will not ordinarily affect
the underlying loan or lease contract
1 March 2013
Restrictions on the use of 'independent',
'impartial', 'unbiased', 'financial
counsellor', and 'financial counselling' by brokers,
subject to exceptions when truly independent
1 March 2013
Prescribed notice to be given to borrowers/lessees and
employers if a payment direction is given to an employer to collect
default payments
1 March 2013
If a credit provider collects a third party fee which is
unascertainable and the actual fee is less than the amount
collected, the excess must be refunded or credited to the
borrower
1 March 2013
If a credit provider collects a third party fee which is
unascertainable and the actual fee is less than the amount
collected, the excess must be refunded or credited to the
borrower
1 March 2013
Extend the time for giving direct debit default notices from 10
business days to 14 days
1 March 2013
New requirements for reverse mortgages. (Some provisions start
on 1 July 2012)
1 March 2013
No negative equity guarantee for reverse mortgages and extra
requirements for enforcement
1 July 2013
Minor amendments to s88 (default notices)
1 March 2013
Create a new regime for 'small amount credit contracts'
of $2,000 or less for terms of two years or less
1 March 2013
Impose an interest rate cap for credit contracts, with a
separate regime for small amount credit contracts
TBA
Amend the NCC so that consumer leases are regulated more like
regulated loans
1 March 2013
Gadens TRAC team is working closely with the MFAA and others to
monitor the progress of this legislation and make submissions as
appropriate.
