Consumer groups shun mortgage broker forum

Consumer groups have called out the mortgage-broking industry for paying lip service to wanting reforms while lobbying politicians to save their commissions.

The consumer groups that were part of a forum with the mortgage-broking industry have quit en masse, citing a lack of progress and willingness to change.

Choice, Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Counselling Australia and Financial Rights Legal Centre pulled their representatives from from the Combined Industry Forum.

"Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions someone can make, said Fiona Guthrie, chief executive of Financial Counselling Australia.

"It's essential that any advice is given with a consumers' best interest in mind.

"Removing conflicts is the only way to make sure that someone buying a home gets genuine advice about the best option for them."

The forum was initiated by the mortgage-broking industry.

The consumer groups their discussions over the years have failed to deal with concerns about commissions or calls for brokers to act in the best interests of their clients.

"Mortgage broking lobbyists continue to swarm on Parliament House in an attempt to derail crucial recommendations from the Royal Commission Final Report, showing the sector cannot be trusted to stand up for everyday home owners when it comes to reform," the groups said in a statement.

They are urging the government to implement the recommendations of the royal commission into the financial services industry, including ending trail commission payments to brokers for the life of a home loan and phasing out commissions paid by lenders to brokers who push their loans.


Share
Published 15 February 2019 5:48am
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world