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Regulating a Revolution: A New Regulatory Model for Digital Finance. This project aims to draw on regulatory developments abroad to develop an innovative, proportional, incremental regulatory regime for Australian digital financial services (DFS). DFS are set to grow rapidly in Australia, just as they have overseas. An effective and appropriate regulatory regime should result in a more competitive and efficient payments system that will lift productivity and economic growth. The project also int ....Regulating a Revolution: A New Regulatory Model for Digital Finance. This project aims to draw on regulatory developments abroad to develop an innovative, proportional, incremental regulatory regime for Australian digital financial services (DFS). DFS are set to grow rapidly in Australia, just as they have overseas. An effective and appropriate regulatory regime should result in a more competitive and efficient payments system that will lift productivity and economic growth. The project also intends to analyse and resolve regulatory roadblocks to the growth of DFS in developing countries to promote financial inclusion and economic growth, and thereby reduce poverty, in such countries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100792
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,980.00
Summary
Restoring public trust in charities: reforming governance and enforcement. This project aims to undertake a comprehensive and comparative investigation of governance and enforcement in the charitable sector in Australia. Public trust in the charitable sector has been damaged by governance failures, particularly in religious contexts, exacerbated by the sector’s complex and incoherent governance system. As yet, there has been limited academic consideration or empirical analysis of the effectivene ....Restoring public trust in charities: reforming governance and enforcement. This project aims to undertake a comprehensive and comparative investigation of governance and enforcement in the charitable sector in Australia. Public trust in the charitable sector has been damaged by governance failures, particularly in religious contexts, exacerbated by the sector’s complex and incoherent governance system. As yet, there has been limited academic consideration or empirical analysis of the effectiveness of the governance and regulatory framework of the sector or concrete reform proposals. This project aims to undertake comparative analysis and empirical research of these aspects, and to develop proposals for effective law and policy reform. This is expected to strengthen and maximise the sector’s capacity to contribute to the social and economic life in Australia.Read moreRead less
Systemic responses to global financial instability: new thinking and measures by which Australia can address the challenges of globalised capital. This project explores and models new systemic responses Australia, our region and the world could adopt to counter the instability generated by globalised capital. These include a financial transactions tax, financial activity tax, levies on bank balance sheets and other new responses to too-big-to-fail problems.
Establishing an optimal legal framework for online privacy. Consumer confidence in the security of personal information is essential for the growth of electronic commerce. To compete internationally, Australia must establish a world-class legal framework for the protection of online privacy. New technologies for collecting and processing personal information pose threats to individual privacy. Other technologies may protect privacy. Increasingly, effective protection of privacy depends upon ....Establishing an optimal legal framework for online privacy. Consumer confidence in the security of personal information is essential for the growth of electronic commerce. To compete internationally, Australia must establish a world-class legal framework for the protection of online privacy. New technologies for collecting and processing personal information pose threats to individual privacy. Other technologies may protect privacy. Increasingly, effective protection of privacy depends upon the coordination of legal rules and technological measures. This project will be the first study to investigate the optimal mix of regulatory tools for the protection of online privacy in Australia. Recommendations will be made to improve Australian privacy laws and policies.Read moreRead less
Legal and Ethical Regulation of the Use and Commercialisation of Human Biological Material. The Australian government has a policy of promoting expertise in genomics. An essential ingredient of research and development of the genomics industry is access to human biological material. A clear regulatory framework is required, consistent with national ethical principles. There is lack of clarity, legally and ethically, in relation to ownership (including derivative claims), consented and un-consent ....Legal and Ethical Regulation of the Use and Commercialisation of Human Biological Material. The Australian government has a policy of promoting expertise in genomics. An essential ingredient of research and development of the genomics industry is access to human biological material. A clear regulatory framework is required, consistent with national ethical principles. There is lack of clarity, legally and ethically, in relation to ownership (including derivative claims), consented and un-consented use, contracts, conflict of interest and benefit sharing in human biological material, including regenerative tissue. Clarification will facilitate ethical research and commercialisation. These issues will be analysed systematically with recommendations for Australia consistent with international standards.Read moreRead less
The legal and social dimensions of financial hardship in Australia: Implications for legal, regulatory and policy frameworks. Financial hardship, the reduced ability to meet monetary obligations because of loss of employment, illness or disaster, is an increasing problem for both low-income and middle-income Australians. This project is the first in-depth study of the practical operation of Australia’s financial hardship laws, which are designed to protect Australians suffering financial hardshi ....The legal and social dimensions of financial hardship in Australia: Implications for legal, regulatory and policy frameworks. Financial hardship, the reduced ability to meet monetary obligations because of loss of employment, illness or disaster, is an increasing problem for both low-income and middle-income Australians. This project is the first in-depth study of the practical operation of Australia’s financial hardship laws, which are designed to protect Australians suffering financial hardship. Major surveys will be undertaken of senior staff of financial dispute resolution schemes, financial counsellors, consumer solicitors and consumer advocates as well as persons suffering financial hardship. The project outcomes will include improvements to dispute resolution involving financial hardship and consumer advisory services, and potential law reform proposals.Read moreRead less
Financial exclusion, poor insurer practices and consumer protection. This project aims to study financial exclusion and variations in access to general insurance, as well as insurer practices in selling insurance and handling claims. Through surveys, focus groups and interviews, the project also aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the legal protections for consumers of general insurance. The expected project outcomes include law and policy reform proposals to improve the effectiveness of these ....Financial exclusion, poor insurer practices and consumer protection. This project aims to study financial exclusion and variations in access to general insurance, as well as insurer practices in selling insurance and handling claims. Through surveys, focus groups and interviews, the project also aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the legal protections for consumers of general insurance. The expected project outcomes include law and policy reform proposals to improve the effectiveness of these protections and maximise access to general insurance, particularly for socio-economically disadvantaged consumers. This should have benefits such as an increased uptake of general insurance and improved community resilience to natural disasters and other unforeseen events.Read moreRead less
Evaluating Australian personal insolvency laws in the context of changing demographics and increasing financial stress. This project will study how Australians respond to financial stress within the context of Australian personal insolvency laws. A better understanding of the practical impact of these laws today will enable an evaluation of their effectiveness in meeting policy objectives.
Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. This project will investigate financial products that can harm disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers. It will use empirical research (surveys, interviews and focus groups) to explore how these products perpetuate financial hardship, poor health and social disadvantage. In doing so, it expects to contribute to consumer law scholarship and studies of financial ....Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. This project will investigate financial products that can harm disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers. It will use empirical research (surveys, interviews and focus groups) to explore how these products perpetuate financial hardship, poor health and social disadvantage. In doing so, it expects to contribute to consumer law scholarship and studies of financial exclusion, and provide practical assistance to policymakers, regulators and the partner organisations. The project will also assess the need for law reform, and, if appropriate, recommend detailed law reforms. The research is expected to help policymakers address damage caused by harmful and predatory financial products and promote the financial and social wellbeing of vulnerable, disadvantaged consumers.Read moreRead less
Models of contract law: are broad principles better than detailed rules? Empirical confirmation that broad principles work better than detailed rules could lead to many economic and social benefits- it would supply a key to simplifying the law; contracts would be shorter and simpler, reducing the costs of doing business; contract disputes and litigation would be reduced, saving public and private expense; decision-making would be more accountable and transparent, improving the quality of justice ....Models of contract law: are broad principles better than detailed rules? Empirical confirmation that broad principles work better than detailed rules could lead to many economic and social benefits- it would supply a key to simplifying the law; contracts would be shorter and simpler, reducing the costs of doing business; contract disputes and litigation would be reduced, saving public and private expense; decision-making would be more accountable and transparent, improving the quality of justice; codifying the law would be more feasible; and harmonising Australian contract law with that of our international trade partners would be facilitated. The project thus has the potential to contribute to strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric (Priority Goal 4 of National Research Priority 2).Read moreRead less