Resolution of disputes with financial service providers within the justice system
The submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee into the resolution of disputes with financial service providers within the justice system was prepared by the Law Council.
In addition to the provision of a written submission on 8 March 2019 the Law Council also appeared at a public hearing of the Committee on 21 March 2019. At that hearing, questions relating to the following three topics were taken on notice:
- details of a proposal for the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) to establish an independent panel of lawyers to assist in certain complex matters;
- additional safeguards that could be put in place to prevent financial service providers from using repossession as a first resort; and
- thoughts on changes to legal process in relation to housing repossession matters, including greater use of alternative dispute resolution.
Further responses to these matters raised at the public hearing are provided in the submission.
You can read the full submission below.