Enquiries: media@ocn.org.au
Consumer Groups warn NIBA: Address conflicts or face regulatory action
The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL), the Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN), and the Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ) have warned the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) that unless its revised Code of Practice properly addresses conflicts of interest in the strata insurance sector, the issue will be escalated directly to regulators. Read the media release here ACIL page: Consumer Groups Warn NIBA: Address Conflicts or Face [...]
Strata owners back call to ban conflicted payments following landmark report
The Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN) welcomes the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s final report on strata commissions, calling on the NSW Government to adopt its recommendations in full and end conflicted payments across the sector. The report finds that commission-based payments to strata managers create systemic conflicts of interest, leading to higher costs, reduced transparency and weaker competition. OCN says the findings confirm long-standing concerns from strata [...]
Progress on insurance commissions in NSW
The board of SCA (NSW), which has many NSW strata managing agents as members, has resolved to get rid of insurance commissions for SCA member strata managing agents. This is an important first step – but only a first step. Much as we at OCN welcome this news, we are aware that insurance commissions are just one of the sources of conflicted remuneration for agents. So OCN has joined with [...]
New management for OCN
OCN is pleased to announce a new structure, with two of its board members assuming management roles.David Glover and Chris Irons, who both joined the board in late 2023, will become Managing Director – Services and Managing Director – Development respectively, effective today, 14 May 2025.Karen Stiles, who's stood in as interim CEO over the last few weeks, will return to contributing her deep experience to OCN as Policy Director.Board [...]
NSW Fair Trading investigation continues after Netstrata report released
Shari Driver, CEO of the Owners Corporation of Australia Ltd (OCN), notes that today NSW Fair Trading released the report from the first stage of the investigation. We note that McGrathNicol identified: "Several potential conflicts of interest not disclosed by Netstrata to its clients including the personal relationships that employees of Netstrata had with suppliers. Highly saturated use of those related entity suppliers or suppliers with whom Netstrata had a [...]
Legal Limbo in Wang Suspense
Shari Driver, CEO of the Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN), said that “OCN is disappointed that the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) has upheld an earlier order that temporarily stayed the cancellation of Mr Whitney Hong Wang’s strata managing agent licence.” OCN has previously heard complaints from distressed strata owners alleging that Mr Wang has engaged in inappropriate and unethical conduct. For now, this means that many owners [...]
Strata consumer groups expect a defendable government report about Netstrata
The Owners Corporation Network (OCN), the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL), and the Unit Owners Association Queensland (UOAQ) are all deeply concerned to hear that Netstrata may have sought to influence the outcome of the NSW Government’s investigation into alleged malpractice by Netstrata. In 2024, an enforceable undertaking was entered into by Netstrata with NSW Fair Trading to provide for a review of Netstrata (and their subsidiaries) business processes, practices [...]
New face same passion for advocacy
The Owners Corporation Network of Australia Ltd (OCN) heralded a major leadership change at its Strata Matters 2024 conference. OCN welcomed Karen Stiles into her new focus as Policy Director and Shari Driver into her promotion to Chief Executive Officer. Shari comes to OCN with a background in town planning and extensive senior leadership experience across government, private industry and not-for-profit organisations. Shari brings an in-depth understanding of the strata [...]
Consumer Groups Demand Government-Directed Inquiry into Strata Management Industry
A coalition of leading consumer advocacy associations has today called on Federal Treasurer, Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP to initiate a government-directed public inquiry, led by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission or the Productivity Commission, into the strata management industry. The coalition cites systemic harmful practices within the industry that compromise consumer rights and community expectations. Noting recent media reports of unethical, questionable or unlawful practices, the groups urge [...]
How apartment owners are being ripped off….
Here's today's media UPDATE ABC Four Corners:> VIEW THE FULL EPISODE HERE ABC News: How apartment owners are being ripped off> http://ABC News Daily: How Apartment Owners Are Being Ripped Off ACCC Chair calls for a ban on Strata Insurance Commissions:> ABC News today Brokers and advocates call for public strata inquiry:> Call for a public inquiryAnd in the interest of fairness, Steadfast's response:> https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/breaking-news/steadfast-on-abc-strata-investigation-we-refute-the-allegations-504852.aspx Plus there's more Top consumer groups say [...]
NSW Budget 2024-25
MEDIA RELEASE 19 June 2024 The Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN) welcomes new budget funding specifically to support delivery of much needed strata reform. Strata is one of the main, if not the main, formats for improved housing supply over the short and medium term. So, it’s a good start. But more will be needed as the scope and scale of the task to improve community confidence and trust [...]
Consumer Groups Unite in Call for Increased Resourcing of NSW Strata & Property Services Commissioner
A coalition of leading consumer groups - the Australian College of Strata Lawyers, Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby, Owners Corporation Network of Australia, Retirement Village Residents Association, and Strata Community Association - has jointly urged the NSW State Government to increase funding for the Office of the Strata and Property Services Commissioner in the 2024-25 NSW State Budget. Read media release:> 240515 Joint ACSL, ACIL, OCN, RVRA, SCA Call For NSW [...]
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