News and Events

RLC submission to the Retirement Income Policy Division

On 28 March 2018, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Australian Consumer Law Review) Bill 2018 (Cth) was passed and will enact the first suite of proposals of the Australian Consumer Law Review.

On 18 October, the Australian Senate voted to establish an inquiry into unregulated debt management firms, which target customers with debt problems.

Over the the past few months, a series of free training sessions have been offered to volunteer solicitors at Kingsford, Inner City, Redfern and Marrickville Legal Centres. Book now for the final session, being held in November.

In this submission, RLC focuses on the impact of irresponsible lending practices on consumers in response to the ASIC Consultation Paper on Credit Cards and Responsible Lending Assessments.

On 21 March 2018, a new State Debt Recovery Act 2018 (NSW) commenced. The Act gives Revenue NSW the power to bypass the court debt recovery process, dramatically changing the way state debts, such as council rates, are collected in NSW.

Tara Hayes speaks to RLC's Credit and Debt solicitor, Laura Bianchi, to gain insight into the Banking Royal Commission.

Redfern Legal Centre welcomes the release of the Final Report of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) Inquiry into the Incarceration Rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday 28 March 2018.

Redfern Legal Centre supports growing calls to change the date of Australia Day. 26 January should be commemorated as a day of mourning, protest and reflection, rather than a national day of celebration.

By Tony Ibrahim. Published by CHOICE on 27 March 2017. RLC's Credit & Debt solicitor Laura Bianchi talks to Tony Ibrahim from CHOICE about the pitfalls of consumer lease arrangements and payday loans.