Finances

Patient and nurse at hospital admissions. | Newsreel

Shine disappears from Gold hospital cover

Australians are being urged to re-consider top-level hospital cover, as the cost of private health insurance soars. Consumer group CHOICE has found that while annual
Read more 5 June 2024
Woman shopping online. | Newsreel

Shoppers tipped to spend $10 billion at sales

Australian shoppers are tipped to spend more than $10 billion at end of financial year sales, an almost nine percent increase from last year. Research commissioned by
Read more 4 June 2024
Woman worried about bills. | Newsreel

Millions struggling with debt avoid help

Almost six million Australians struggled to make loan repayments last year, according to new data. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) research found
Read more 3 June 2024
Worker in factory. | Newsreel

Minimum wage to rise by 3.75 percent

Australia’s minimum wage will increase by 3.75 percent from July 1. The Fair Work Commission announced the rise in the National Minimum Wage and all modern award
Read more 3 June 2024
Speakers at the Queensland Futures Institute Finance Summit - Newsreel

Mortgage defaults down despite rate pressure

Mortgage defaults are lower than pre-COVID levels despite the pressure of rapid interest rates rises, banking chiefs have told the Queensland Futures Institute 2024
Read more 3 June 2024
Many homes are being damaged multiple times - Newsreel

Poorly located homes driving insurance rises

A Queensland insurance leader has cautioned against putting homes in the wrong places in the rush to address supply and affordability issues. Suncorp Group Chief
Read more 3 June 2024
Suncorp CEO Steve Johnston at the QFI 2024 Finance Summit.

Regulations freezing out small business and families

Australia’s growing regulatory requirements are beginning to squeeze small business out of insurance work and prevent families from accessing finance. Speakers at
Read more 2 June 2024
Woman on phone and woman shocked looking at credit card. | Newsreel

Banks falling short in scam response

A third of scam victims never report the loss to their bank out of embarrassment or the belief nothing will be done. A recent CHOICE report also found about half of
Read more 1 June 2024
Scam texts on mobile phones. | Newsreel

80% of Aussies hit with scam texts weekly

More than 80 percent of Australians receive at least one scam text every week, with fake shipping or package delivery messages the most common. New research,
Read more 30 May 2024
Annual inflation at 3.6 percent in April - Newsreel

Inflation remains stubbornly high at 3.6%

Australia’s inflation rate remains stubbornly high and outside the zone where the Reserve Bank is likely to reduce interest rates. April Consumer Price Index data,
Read more 29 May 2024