Impact of Climate Risk on Insurance Premiums and Availability
OCN made a detailed submission to the Senate Inquiry into the impact of climate risk on insurance availability and affordability, focusing on the undetected concentration of the strata insurance sector. We propose that the climate change narrative has masked an escalation in intermediary fees, commissions and profits. The compulsory aspect of strata insurance means it could be considered a form of state insurance, like motor liability or workers compensation, but [...]
General Insurance Code of Conduct
OCN joined a coalition of consumer groups calling for improvements to the Code of Conduct. Specific reference to strata insurance is on pages 61-63. Read submission:> Joint OCN & Others Submission - Review of the General Insurance Code of Practice June 2024 Related content:> https://ocn.org.au/ocn-welcomes-abolition-of-emergency-services-levy-on-insurance-policies/
Fire Safety Reforms
OCN made a further submission on proposed fire safety reforms, which include the introduction of licensing for fire safety practitioners. With an accreditation program only established in 2021 for fire safety practitioners, and limited training facilities, OCN is wary of adding another layer of complexity and cost to owners without a compelling cost benefit analysis. Read submission:> OCN Submission - Fire Safety Reforms May 2024 Related content:> OCN Submission - [...]
Inquiry into the Transition to Electric Vehicles
22 MARCH 2024 OCN responded to the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water inquiry into: the establishment of resources, systems and infrastructure required to support transition to EVs the impact of moving from internal combustion engine vehicles, including fuel excise loss, existing auto industry component manufacturers and the environment the opportunities for fuel savings, such as by combining EVs with other consumer energy [...]
Inquiry Into Residential Electrification – OCN Supplementary Submission
13 MARCH 2024 OCN made a supplementary submission to the Senate Economics References Committee, to clarify testimony regarding incentivising both individual owners and owners corporations. Read Submission:> OCN Supplementary Submission - Senate Economics References Committee Questions VI Original Submission 28/9/23:> OCN Submission - Australian Senate Economics Reference Committee Inquiry into Residential Electrification 230928 Opening Remarks for Testimony 21/2/24:>OCN Appearance - Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into Residential Electrification Opening Comments [...]
NSW Review of Short & Long Term Accommodation
06 MARCH 2024 OCN made a submission making the following recommendations: Allow access to the Register by an Owners Corporation. Expand the scope of the Code of Conduct to address a greater remit of identified concerns to neighbours, other lot Owners, and Owners Corporations. Authorise council inspectors to inspect residential premises suspected of being used for short-term letting. Allow councils to ban short-term letting through development application. Ensure that any [...]
NSW Consumer Energy Strategy 2024
OCN made a submission calling for a clear focus on strata titled dwellings as well as stand-alone housing. Read submission:> OCN submission - NSW Consumer Energy Strategy 2024 February 2024
Review of the Australian Energy Regulator exemptions framework for embedded networks
5 FEBRUARY 2024 OCN made a submission to the federal regulator of embedded networks, calling for strict controls on developer-initiated embedded networks that only profit the developer, and cause harm to owners and residents. Read submission:> OCN Submission - AER Review of Exemptions Framework for Embedded Networks 240205
NSW Fire Safety Reforms
23 JANUARY 2024 OCN made a submission on the proposed reforms to fire safety regulations in NSW. Read submission:> OCN Submission - Fire Safety Reforms January 2024 Related content:> https://ocn.org.au/product/fire-safety-by-law-proforma/
IPART Review of Embedded Networks in NSW
OCN made a submission on the protections needed for strata owners and tenants where developers install an embedded network. Read submission:>OCN Submission - IPART Draft Report on Embedded Networks January 2024 Related content:> https://ocn.org.au/inquiry-into-embedded-networks-in-nsw/
Australian Consumer Law & Owners Corporations
22 JANUARY 2024 OCN wrote to Federal, State and Territory Consumer Affairs Ministers, asking them to identify and address gaps in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) insofar as they apply to owners corporations. Gaps in the ACL leave owners corporations, lot owners and tenants at a significant disadvantage in their dealings with businesses, including developers and strata/owners corporation managers. The ACL provides that unfair terms of a consumer or a [...]
OCN attends ‘Round Table’ consultation on NSW fire safety regulation reform
Roundtable consultation on fire safety regulation reform 12 Dec 2023 - Better Regulation Division, NSW Department of Customer Service OCN represented owners' views at the December 2023 first stage of consultation on fire safety reforms, covering the design of fire safety systems. The roundtable canvassed several survey questions. Several questions were posed where OCN felt the owners' point of view would be of value. Many technical questions were left to [...]
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