Already there is a private members' Bill in the Senate proposing stricter lending criteria on small amount credit contracts (SACCs, also known as payday lending), and consumer leases (also known as rent-to-buy).
Such restrictions would include a maximum payments cap for rent-to-buy schemes, and equal repayment and payment intervals for SACCs, among other criteria.
Consumer Action CEO Gerard Brody said the Senate Bill "should be passed as a matter of urgency", after a rollback in responsible lending criteria was announced for home loans last week.
“The Government and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg are putting the interests of banks and predatory payday lenders before those of everyday Australians, as the economic fallout of COVID-19 worsens,” Consumer Action CEO Gerard Brody said.
"Unaffordable credit will destroy our economy. These proposals are the kind of short-sighted thinking that led to the Global Financial Crisis."
However, as it stands, the announced rollbacks do not extend to payday lending and rent-to-buy schemes.
Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest fixed interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.
| Lender | Home Loan | Interest Rate | Comparison Rate* | Monthly Repayment | Repayment type | Rate Type | Offset | Redraw | Ongoing Fees | Upfront Fees | LVR | Lump Sum Repayment | Additional Repayments | Split Loan Option | Tags | Features | Link | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.24% p.a. | 6.29% p.a. | $2,460 | Principal & Interest | Fixed | $0 | $0 | 90% | Free Redraw Facility | ||||||||||
6.09% p.a. | 6.19% p.a. | $2,421 | Principal & Interest | Fixed | $0 | $350 | 80% | |||||||||||
6.69% p.a. | 7.77% p.a. | $2,578 | Principal & Interest | Fixed | $395 | $0 | 80% | |||||||||||
6.69% p.a. | 7.19% p.a. | $2,578 | Principal & Interest | Fixed | $0 | $160 | 80% |
Westpac's credit strategy team said despite the rollbacks, they expect demand for credit to remain subdued in many segments.
"As always, the devil will be in the detail, and a consultation process will now be implemented before final legislation is put in place," they said.
"However the move has the capacity to ease both the administrative and regulatory burden on the banks at a point in the cycle where regulators and governments are seeking support to maintain the flow of credit to the broader economy under exceptional circumstances."
Mr Brody said the rollback in the home loans space sets a precedent.
"The intended watering down of vital protections recommended by the SACC Review will defeat the purpose of the whole reform,” he said.
"The only explanation for these changes is that the Government has bowed to the sustained lobbying by industry. The ongoing delays and pandering to industry interests is simply unacceptable."
Bill finds critics
The National Credit Providers' Association (NCPA) has hit back at the Senate Bill, soon after Consumer Action lamented the potential easing of credit regulations.
NCPA chairman Michael Rudd said such reforms could end up disadvantaging consumers and exclude them from accessing credit.
"This makes no sense at a time when the Treasurer is saying to banks for a loan of $500,000 responsible lending laws are being relaxed and it's buyer beware, but for the same consumer who wants to borrow $500, they are making it harder and more expensive," he said.
"This is 'nanny state stuff' in the extreme and not what you would expect from the Liberal Party, the party of free enterprise.
"Instead, these reforms for the SACC sector will have the opposite effect and push more people to unregulated lenders who provide harmful products and are often misrepresented through the media and consumer advocates as SACC providers."
Mr Rudd is also the CEO of Commit Co, a payday lender.
Ready, Set, Buy!
Learn everything you need to know about buying property – from choosing the right property and home loan, to the purchasing process, tips to save money and more!
With bonus Q&A sheet and Crossword!
