Media releases

2000

Australia and New Zealand Commit to Greater Business Law Integration

The Australian and New Zealand governments have today committed to further business law integration.

ACCC Report Shows up Labor Scare Campaign

Australian business did not try to jack up prices ahead of the introduction of the New Tax System despite Labor's efforts to create fear and confusion, the Minister for Financial Services &

Historic Agreement on Corporations Law

The joint Standing Committee of Attorneys-General and Ministerial Council for Corporations today reached an historic agreement.

Stanford Joins Forces With Leading Australian Business Schools

The Australian Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, announced today the set up in Australia of a joint venture in business and finance education involving Stanford

Rollback Rolls on - and Rural Australia Will Cop it Sweet

Labor finally told the truth today about its rollback policy when frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon revealed to Parliament the ALP would abolish the $500 million fuel subsidy going to rural Aust

Children to Design Commemorative Coins

The Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, Joe Hockey, announced today that the Royal Australian Mint will hold a competition for designs of nine 20 cent coins for all Australia's

Corporations Law Scheme

A majority of the joint meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General and Ministerial Council for Corporations today agreed in principle to refer power to the Commonwealth to deal

Action on Petrol Price Board Scams

The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today called on the States and Territories to do more to make sure consumers were not mislead by petrol retailers who displ

Labor Price Survey a Con

Labor's GST price survey has been exposed as a sham and a con, the Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, said today.

ACCC Should Investigate Labor Price Claims

The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today called on Labor's Lindsay Tanner to provide the ACCC with any information on price exploitation his survey has found.

Standard Chartered Bank Acquisition of ANZ Grindlays Approved

The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today approved the proposed acquisition of ANZ Grindlays Bank Limited by Standard Chartered PLC.

Government Responds to Hawker Inquiry into Regional Banking Services

The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today tabled the Government's response to the report on 'Regional Banking Services Money Too Far Away'.

ALP Credibility on Super Consumer Protection in Tatters

Labor's decision to refer the Financial Sector Legislation Amendment Bill (No.

Labor Deceit on Company Meetings

Labor again showed its duplicitous hand today by blocking a regulation that would have stopped special interest groups from hijacking company meetings.

Westpac Referred to ACCC

The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today referred Westpac Banking Corporation's price increases to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for investigatio

More Protection for Workers' Entitlements

The Government has secured passage of its legislation that aims to significantly increase protection for workers' entitlements under the Corporations Law, the Minister for Financi

Financial Services Reform Bill Update

In the light of the uncertainty arising from the High Court's recent decision in R v Hughes, the Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, has decided

New bank for Rural Australia

The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today launched a new bank for rural Australia called Elders Rural Bank.

National Australia Bank Acquisition of MLC Approved

The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today approved the proposed acquisition of the financial services businesses of Lend Lease, including MLC Holding

More protection for small business

The Government today announced a new regulation which means more Australian businesses will be protected from unconscionable business conduct.