Welcome to the Consumer Action Law Centre, a campaign-focused consumer advocacy, litigation & policy organisation based in Melbourne, Australia.
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January 2012
04/01: Your rights to return goods bought online—a scan of the return policies of online retailers in Australia
In January 2011, the Australian Government introduced legal protections for consumers buying goods or services called ‘consumer guarantees’. Consumer Guarantees ensure that you can get a refund, replacement or another remedy if goods or services you buy are faulty, unsafe, or don’t do what you reasonably expect them to do.
Consumer Action looked at the returns policies of 12 leading online businesses in December 2011 to find out if online retailers understood their obligations under the Consumer Guarantees and whether they reflect that understanding in the information they provide to consumers. What we found was pretty disappointing. In our assessment, only two of the 12 retailers we looked at had returns policies that were both compliant with the Consumer Guarantees and demonstrate good practice. Eight businesses, including some big names like Apple, Coles Online and Officeworks, had policies with many serious deficiencies. Read our findings here.
Note: Since reviewing the policies in December 2011, some of these companies have said that they will review or change their policies. Be aware that the problems we identify in this document may have already been addressed.
December 2011
21/12: Community lawyers claim The Cash Store's holiday marketing is irresponsible
A new advertisement from one of Australia’s leading payday loan brokers, The Cash Store, has raised the ire of two community legal centres, who fear the advert may result in many Victorian’s entering the New Year in a perilous financial position.
The flyer, delivered to households in the Mildura region, is a certificate that states the recipient is guaranteed a loan of ‘at least four hundred dollars’ and implies that the recipient has been pre-approved without any credit assessment - a practice which would fly in the face of responsible lending laws and undermine the payday lending industry’s claims to be lending responsibly. Read the full media release here and view a copy of the flyer here.
20/12: Work with us - our MoneyHelp financial counselling team are now looking for an intake worker to provide support 3 days per week. Download the position description here and apply via email to skye@consumeraction.org.au.
20/12: Hire car insurance is not what it seems, in fact, it’s often not insurance at all
As many Victorians head off on holidays, the Consumer Action Law Centre is warning consumers that hire car 'insurance' is not what seems. Indeed, it’s often not insurance at all but, rather, an indemnity which, in the case of an accident, may fall a long way short of what customers would need and could leave them deep in debt. Read the full media release here.
19/12: Contracting competition in the energy retail market results in lacklustre performance
A new report showing three leading energy retailers control almost 75 per cent of market share is bad news for Victorian households which are missing out on the financial benefits and service improvements that should stem from a successfully functioning competitive market. The Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) annual Energy Retailers Performance Review also revealed a growing number of households were being disconnected because of financial hardship rather than being offered assistance such a payment plan. Read the full media release here.
16/12: Public education the key to realising the benefits of Victoria’s smart meter rollout
Households can look forward to the long promised but often delayed benefits of smart meters following the Victorian Government’s decision to go ahead with the rollout, due to be completed by the end of 2013. The decision, along with the additional safeguards announced by the Hon. Michael O’Brien, Minister for Energy and Resources, means the Government can now turn its attention to educating the public about smart meters and clearing up some of the wide spread misconceptions about the program. Read the full media release here.
08/12: National unfair contract terms and consumer guarantees to be under the spotlight
The Australian Consumer Law’s unfair contract terms provisions are set to be tested in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after the Consumer Action Law Centre issued proceedings against internship and work experience agency Borch Leeman on behalf of one of its clients. As well as the alleged unfair contract terms, Consumer Action’s client alleges that. Read the full media release here.
November 2011
28/11: Door-to-door salespeople meeting a sticky end
A national Do Not Knock campaign, aiming to put a stop to unwelcome, dishonest and intimidating door-to-door salespeople, has begun with the Consumer Action Law Centre launching a new interactive website www.donotknock.org.au.
For many Australians, particularly the elderly and people living on their own, being visited by salespeople can be an unnerving experience. For others, having valuable time at home with family and friends interrupted by pushy salespeople is simply an unwelcome distraction. But help is at hand. Read the full media release here.
23/11: ASIC payday lending report reveals fundamental non-compliance—a cap is needed
The Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) report, Review of micro lenders' responsible lending conduct and disclosure obligations. Catriona Lowe Co-CEO of Consumer Action noted that ‘the report offers a frankly frightening insight into compliance that is and is not occurring at payday lending outlets. It also offers insight into the practical limitations on what ASIC is able do under responsible lending laws and supports our view that further regulation is needed to address consumer harm caused by payday lending.’ Read the full media release here.
23/11: Energy rules must change—consumers and big business agree
Consumer groups from around Australia have joined the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and some of the nation’s biggest businesses in calling for reform to the process that sets electricity network prices, ahead of a forum on the energy network rule change review today in Brisbane. Read the full media release here.
18/11: Consumer Action welcomes ASIC investigation into broker responsible lending conduct
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the release of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission's (ASIC) investigation into mortgage brokers' responsible lending conduct, focusing on ‘low doc’ loans. And while the Centre was pleased ASIC found that most brokers were aware of the new responsible lending obligations and that brokers' practices had changed since the introduction of the new laws, it said the report served as a reminder that there was some way to go to achieve compliance—particularly in some segments of in the industry. Read the full media release here.
18/11: Time for the Federal Opposition to show its hand on payday lending reforms
A coalition of consumer groups has called on the Federal Opposition to back the Government’s proposed national credit reforms, which are designed to protect payday loan borrowers from effective interest rates of over 600 per cent per annum and clean up an industry Joe Hockey described as ‘insidious’.
Consumer Action Law Centre, Consumer Credit Legal Centre and Financial Counselling Australia said the proposed cap on the costs of short term loans needs to be passed unamended to effectively protect vulnerable borrowers, but warned that lenders would continue to use their substantial financial resources to derail the passage of the legislation unless the Opposition got behind reforms. Read the full media release here.
16/11: West Australian financial counsellors send payday lenders a message
We’d like to congratulate the West Australian financial counselling community which gathered to protest the harm caused by payday lending outside Cash Converters’ Annual General Meeting today. The protest, which reinforced the need for greater consumer protection in the payday lending industry, was well attended by both financial counsellors and media outlets. See Perth Now’s video of the protest here.
14/11: Stronger response needed to ensure consumers are protected in times of disaster
The Consumer Action Law Centre has expressed disappointment with the Government’s initial response to the National Disaster Insurance Review (NDIR) Panel's report which it labelled as 'indecisive'. While the Centre welcomed moves towards a system which would see more Australians covered by flood insurance, it raised concerns about the proposed ‘opt out’ model and has lamented the lack of tangible interim measures in the Government’s response. Read our media release here.
11/11: Government warned that new credit card regulation may require running repairs
The Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the Federal Government’s ban on credit providers making unsolicited credit card limit increase offers to customers, but believes that ambiguity in the regulations governing the ban will see credit providers attempt to evade and undermine it. The Centre has also warned that the Government will need to respond quickly to any such attempt if it wants to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the ban. Read our media release here.
07/11: Fair calls for all
Consumer Action has been working closely with the Fair Calls For All campaign that aims to have calls to 1800, 1300 and 13 numbers charged at a fair price from all phones.
Getting in touch with Centrelink, your bank or a legal, financial or other charity helpline shouldn’t cost a lot. But right now it can cost you up to $1.78 per minute to call 1800 ‘freecall’ and 13/1300 ‘local rate’ numbers from your mobile phone. If you called from a landline, these calls would be free or fixed at 30 cents.
After a year of community calls for action, the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) is proposing to regulate so that 1800 numbers will be free and 13/1300 numbers will cost about 30 cents to call from a mobile phone.
This is good news but there’s still work to do.
We know that parts of the telco industry are strongly resisting these reforms. It is important to explain why these changes will benefit Australian consumers, charities and businesses.
Tell the ACMA that you want Fair Calls For All at http://faircalls.good.do/action
04/11: Is eBay selling consumers short?
The Consumer Action Law Centre has taken its concerns about outdated and potentially misleading information on eBay.com.au to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) after eBay International AG (eBay) failed to respond to the centre’s letter outlining its concerns. Read our media release here.
03/11: Consumer Action Law Centre releases its 2010-2011 Annual Report
Consumer Action’s 2010 – 2011 Annual Report is now available online and includes reports from Consumer Action’s Chief Executive Officers, Directors of the Legal Practice and Director of Policy and Campaigns. This year’s annual report also celebrates Consumer Action’s fifth birthday by looking back at the organisations history and its most notable achievements. Read it here.
October 2011
31/10: Consumer Action’s submission to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on advertising for financial products and services
We broadly support ASIC’s approach, including the principle that advertising should assist consumers make balanced decisions—not merely avoid being misleading or deceptive. We suggest that ASIC should be more prescriptive in relation to the marketing practices of funeral insurance and holiday time-share schemes due to poor advertising practices in those areas. Read the submission here.
28/10: Consumer Action's submissions on consumer credit reforms
Consumer Action has provided comment on two short discussion papers on the operation of recent consumer credit reforms. Read them here.
24/10: Consumer Action releases two new submissions
Consumer Action's submission to the Commonwealth Government’s review of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network can be read here.
Consumer Action's submission to inquiries on the Consumer Credit and Corporations Legislation Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2011, which looks at proposed amendments regarding high cost short term loans, consumer leases and other reforms, is available here.
19/10: Report into consumer credit insurance exposes dirty tactics
The Consumer Action Law Centre has responded to ASIC’s report into consumer credit insurance (CCI), by saying that it confirms two of its long held suspicions; that many lenders selling CCI are using underhand or pressure tactics to sell the product, and that the industry has failed to take proactive steps to address practices identified in a number of reports and investigations over the past 20 years. Read our media release here.
17/10: Payday lending practices challenged in court
The lending practices of Australian’s biggest payday lender, Cash Converters, are being challenged in proceedings issued in the Victorian Magistrates Court. A disability support pensioner is alleging that two Cash Converters companies ('Cash Converters') breached the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and the National Credit Code when it gave him at least 64 short-term loans over a three year period. Read our media release here.
12/10: Submission to Essential Services Commission's Compliance Policy Statement
Consumer Action has provided comments to the Essential Services Commission in relation to proposed amendments to its Compliance Policy, with a specific focus on the plan to remove guidelines around wrongful disconnection payments to an internal administrative procedures document. Consumer Action is concerned that these guidelines should be in the Wrongful Disconnection Operating Procedures or at minimum be retained in the Compliance Policy, ensuring that they remain transparent and public.Read the submission here.
September 2011
21/09: New website delivers the cold hard and sad facts about payday lending
A coalition of consumer and financial counselling organisations has launched a new website to ensure the hard truths are heard in the debate about the future of short term high cost loans - www.debttrap.org.au. The new website delivers the confronting facts about payday loans, busts myths currently being spread by payday lenders, and outlines safer credit options available to low income earners. Read out media release here.
16/09: Submission to the ESC’s Draft Decision on Retailers obligations to Customers in relation to disconnection and reconnection
Consumer Action has made a submission to the ESC’s Draft Decision on Retailers obligations to Customers in relation to disconnection and reconnection. While the issues paper sought to reduce retailer obligations, the Draft Decision has instead chosen to retain and in some places strengthen retailer obligations to more suitably address consumer needs in relation to being able to pay varying amounts under payment plans. One issue still requiring attention is the proposal to remove the retailer’s absolute obligation to the customer in terms of reconnection. We strongly believe that the retailer must retain its obligations to its customers, and any dealings with the distribution businesses in relation to disconnection/reconnection are a business to business arrangement.Read the submission here.
12/09: Barriers to fair network prices
A new report released by the Consumer Action Law Centre and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, shows electricity distribution companies are routinely challenging pricing determinations made by the Australian Energy Regulator, the independent organisation that sets distribution costs. The one sided nature of the appeals process means so far attempts to use it to increase distributors' profit margins have been very successful. The report is available here, and Consumer Action and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre's joint media release can be read here.
09/09: More support for proposed payday lending reforms
More community groups and welfare agencies have signed up to our open letter to The Hon. Bill Shorten, in support of the proposed amendments to the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 regulating small amount contracts. You can read the letter here.
08/09: Distribution Pricing Masterclass for Consumers
With energy prices rising, consumer organisations have been taking a keen interest in network distribution network charges, which typically account for around 40 per cent of a small consumer’s electricity bill. In August this year Consumer Action, together with the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, with funding from the Consumer Advocacy Panel, convened a Distribution Pricing Masterclass for Consumers.
The Masterclass sought to build on the existing knowledge of consumer advocates and further enable them to proactively engage in the ongoing debate around the regulatory framework for distribution pricing. It featured a number of presentations from experts including: Dr John Tamblyn, Joanna Ifield from Ernst & Young, Marianne Lourey from ACIL Tasman, Bev Hughson, CUCA’s Jo Benvenuti and Catriona Lowe from Consumer Action.
07/09: Submission to AER’s Price Comparator Website Issues Paper
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Australian Energy Regulator's Price comparator website - Issues Paper. The submission largely supports the AER’s approach, and highlights the fact that comprehensive, clear and easily accessible consumer information is a fundamental precondition to effective competition. Read it here.
02/09: Broad support for proposed payday lending reforms
Community groups and welfare agencies have written an open letter of support for the proposed amendments to the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 regulating small amount contracts. You can read the letter here.
02/09: Review of Debt Agreements under the Bankruptcy Act
Read Consumer Action's submission to Commonwealth Government’s review of Debt Agreements under the Bankruptcy Act here.
August 2011
31/08: Submission to AEMC Issues Paper—Power of Choice
Read Consumer Action's submission on AEMC issues paper—Power of Choice—giving consumers options in the way they use electricity here.
25/08: Government reforms offer a branch to consumers stuck in high cost short term lending quicksand
Consumer Action has responded to the Federal Government's proposed reforms to payday lending. Read our media release here.
23/08: Just Sign Here... A review of Victorian retail energy contract terms and conditions
Energy retail contracts have been put under the microscope in a report just released by the Consumer Action Law Centre. And while the report found that most contracts largely met their regulatory requirements, a lack of contract clarity, consistency and access to information, proved significant barriers to consumer understanding and effective competition.
Just sign here... looked at energy contracts from twelve energy retailers from 2008 and found that sections relating to consumer rights were confusing and unclear to consumer experts, let alone customers looking to make an informed choice about their energy provider. Read the report here.
19/08: What are smart meters and what will they mean for me?
Consumer Action has published a new fact sheet on the Victorian smart meter roll out. Read it here.
18/08:
National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2011
Read Consumer Action’s submission to Commonwealth Treasury regarding the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2011, and draft credit card regulations here.
16/08:
Consumer Action has published its 2011/12 Policy & Campaigns Plan.
This plan, which sets out our policy and campaign priorities for the year, can be read here.
05/08:Jobseekers should know that unpaid trial work is unlawful
Two leading community legal centres have joined forces to warn jobseekers about the practices of some recruitment and job placement agencies that are directing clients into unpaid trial work, using the incentive that it may result in paid work down the track. In truth, this practice is unlawful, and is highly unlikely to result in paid employment.
The Consumer Action Law Centre, in conjunction with employment rights legal centre JobWatch, is advising jobseekers to avoid these types of unpaid placements, and warning those offering unpaid work that they are putting themselves and their businesses at risk of prosecution. Read out media release here.
July 2011
31/07: Consumer InterAction, Issue 4, 2011
Read the latest edition of Consumer Action's bi-monthly newsletter Consumer InterAction, Issue 4 of 2011, here.
22/07:ASIC grants a licence to 'misleading, deceptive and unconscionable' trader
In a move that has disappointed the Consumer Action Law Centre, ASIC has granted a consumer credit licence to a company whose conduct has been found to be misleading, deceptive and unconscionable.
The decision to grant DGTV1 Pty Ltd (which trades as Motor Finance Wizard) a credit licence raises a number of questions about the licensing process, and raises the question what does a lender have to do to be denied a licence? Read our media release.
20/7:
Telecommunications—Reconnecting the Customer
Consumer Action has welcomed the proposals in ACMA’s Reconnecting the Customer Inquiry Draft Report to improve customer service standards for telecommunications consumers. We’ve also called for broader reform to telecommunications legislation to make consumer protection its focus. Read our submission.
13/7: Smart Meters Regulatory Review
Read Consumer Action's submission to the Essential Services Commission on the Smart Meters Regulatory Review here.
June 2011
24/6: Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry
In a submission into the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry, Consumer Action has called for the Public Transport Ombudsman to have jurisdiction for complaints about taxi services. Read our submission.
24/6: New energy sales self-regulation scheme fundamentally flawed
Consumer Action Law Centre has today warned that a new self-regulatory approach for door-to-door sales of energy marketing is unlikely to reduce consumer detriment caused by widespread poor practices in the industry. Read our media release.
22/6: Mission Incomplete: a snapshot of consumer experiences of short-term loans post the national consumer credit reforms
Exorbitant effective interest rates on short term loans, upwards of 400 per cent, continue to put the pinch on vulnerable Australians despite the introduction of responsible lending laws in 2010.
Mission Incomplete, a new report released by the Consumer Action Law Centre, offers a snapshot into the experiences of twelve pay-day lending clients and details the high social and financial costs of an industry estimated to be worth $200 million. Read media release.
15/6: Cross-benchers urged to support a ban on mortgage early exit fees: A coalition of consumer groups, including CALC, is urging Parliament’s cross-benchers to support the Government’s proposed ban on mortgage early exit fees, a ban which will improve competition amongst lenders and shine a light on the less visible costs associated with some home loans. Read out media release.
May 2011
13/5: Motor Finance Wizard: Consumer Action’s legal case against one of the Motor Finance Wizard group of companies on behalf of a vulnerable consumer has been decided - and the Tribunal has formally found that the company's contract was unjust, its conduct was misleading and deceptive and unconscionable, and its entire leasing process was seriously flawed.
ASIC now has a serious question before it - whether the company be granted the credit licence it requires to continue trading. Read our media release.
April 2011
20/4: Concerns about proposed changes to Energy Retail Code. The Victorian Essential Services Commission recently released an issues paper proposing amendments to the Energy Retail Code in relation to retailers’ obligations to customers, in particular in regard to payment difficulties, instalment plan provisions and reconnections. In our submission we highlighted concerns that the proposed changes to the Code will, quite simply, diminish consumer protections and increase the obligations on consumers, and suggested that instead, what is necessary is proactive enforcement of compliance to the existing obligations under the Code by the Commission.
12/4: Work with us. CALC is looking for a consumer advocacy professional to lead our policy and campaigns team. Email skye@consumeraction.org.au for a position description.
5/4: Proposed insurance reforms challenge the industry to step up. The “Fair Go in Insurance” coalition welcome the Government’s proposed package of reforms to the insurance industry. Read our media release.
March 2011
18/3: Dell amends contract terms. Consumer Action's Co-CEO Carolyn Bond withdraws her Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal proceedings against computer giant Dell after the company removes misleading terms from its sales contract. Read our media release.
15/3: World Consumer Rights Day. Consumer Action marked World Consumer Rights Day with an event highlighting the unfair practices of Australia’s insurance industry. Members of Consumer Action and their Melbourne based partners in the coalition for A Fair Go in Insurance gathered in the Bourke Street Mall at 10.30am. The group all carried umbrellas as a symbol of something that can offer real protection, unlike many insurance contracts. See pictures of the event on our Fair Go In Insurance campaign page.
7/3: Insurance review. Consumer Action welcomes the government’s announcement that it will be conducting a review of insurance cover after many Australians found themselves without insurance or with insufficient cover to replace what was lost during the recent Queensland and Victorian floods. Read a copy of Minister Shorten’s media release.
Many of the issues to be reviewed relate to “A Fair Go in Insurance” – a series of recommendations proposing changes to the insurance industry made by a coalition of consumer advocacy and legal aid organisations.
7/3: National Consumer Fraud Week 7-13 March. Scammers do not stop at anything to target victims, including adopting a personal touch. Watch out for scammers – whether you are answering a phone call, opening mail, online chatting with friends, shopping or even looking for love.
Don’t let scammers into your life – protect your identity
Protect yourself against scammers
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY - Your personal details are private and invaluable – keep them that way and away from scammers
DON’T RESPOND - Ignore suspicious emails, letters, phone calls or text messages – press ‘delete’, throw them out or just hang up
DON’T LET SCAMMERS PUSH YOUR BUTTONS - Scammers will play on your emotions to get what they want
RESIST THE PERSONAL TOUCH - Watch out for scammers posing as someone that you know and trust, or pretending to know you
Fighting fraud on the home front: we can all play a part.
Check out Scams: It’s Personal for more information on National Consumer Fraud Week, an initiative of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce.
Stay one step ahead of scammers. Visit the Australian Government’s SCAMwatch website to get the low‑down on scams that target Australian consumers and small business. You can find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you’ve been scammed.
CALC is a Partner of the Taskforce and urges you to protect yourself against scams.
February 2011
28/2: Work with us - CALC is now hiring for the following positions, click on the link for a position description:
Financial Counsellor - 4-6 month position
Litigation Solicitor - 9 month position
Finance Manager - Part time position
17/2: Future of Financial Advice. AusFIN, a unique network of Australian organisations, is calling on the financial advice industry to stop its attempts to derail reforms the Government has already committed to implement. All forms of conflicted remuneration – no matter what their label – should be banned and advisers and planners should have to ask their customers each year if they still want – and want to pay for – their adviser’s services. Read the AusFIN media release.
10/2: More hands on deck needed - Work with us. Our Moneyhelp team are currently recruiting for a part time Financial Counsellor. If you or anyone you know is interested please follow the links to find out more and apply.
1/2: Fair Go in Insurance. A coalition of consumer and insurance law experts today released a twelve point plan setting out the current problems with insurance in Australia in a bid to pressure the Government into securing some real actions ahead of its meeting with the insurance industry today. Read our media release.
January 2011
18/1: Electricity Distribution Prices. Victoria’s five monopoly electricity distributors are appealing the recent price decision made by the Australian Energy Regulator setting their prices for 2011-15, in a bid to charge Victorian consumers even more.
Consumer Action has joined with fellow consumer advocates CUAC to apply to the Australian Competition Tribunal for leave to intervene in the distributors’ appeals. Read our media release and find out more or leave comments on our blog.
December 2010
23/12: Electricity Meter verification. Consumer Action Law Centre has made a submission to the National Measurement Institute as part of their consultation, in support of their proposal to lift the exemption, under the National Measurement Act, for electricity meters to be verified. Read our submission.
23/12: Industry Codes. Consumer Action Law Centre has made a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in relation to authorisation of Energy Assured Limited’s application to establish an industry code focusing on energy marketing practices. Our submission raises particular concern over whether the proposed guideline actually meets the requirements of an industry guideline and whether there will be any public benefit from its establishment. Read our submission.
16/12: Victorian energy market competition. It’s time for the Victorian Government and its energy industry watchdog, the Essential Services Commission, to take real action to help consumers switch and save on their energy bills, after the Commission’s yearly report on the industry released this morning showed that both energy bills and the number of Victorians in hardship is rising significantly. Read our media release.
6/12: Banking Competition. Consumer Action Law Centre has made a submission to the Senate inquiry into competition within the Australian banking sector, focusing on measures that would help Australian consumers themselves to drive competition within the sector. Read our submission.
5/12: Energy distributors seek bigger price rises. Victorians could be paying even more for their electricity over the next five years if the state's energy distributors succeed in challenging October's final price determination from the Australian Energy Regulator. Read our media release.
2/12: Banking reform. A new coalition seeking reform of Australia’s financial system was launched in Melbourne today. Consumer Action is pleased to be a member of the Australian Financial Integrity Network (AusFIN) - a unique and diverse group of Australian organisations that includes the ACTU, CHOICE, FSU, Industry Super Network, The Australia Institute, the Council of Small Business of Australia, AFCCRA and others. Read AusFIN’s Charter to see all our members and our key principles for the Australian financial system.