Australia politics live: telcos face steeper outage fines; Hastie warns Liberals can’t keep living in the Howard era

By Martin Farrer · The Guardian World

Harsher penalties for failing to connect customers to triple zero; Liberal MP reportedly tells party meeting ‘world has changed’. Follow the latest updates live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The peak medical body says regulatory loopholes must be closed to put an end to private health insurance product ‘phoenixing’. The government is currently considering outlawing the deceptive practice where insurers close an existing product offering before opening an almost identical one at a higher price outside the regulated premium round process. Private health insurance premiums have outpaced wages and inflation in recent years, all while insurers’ management expenses and profits continue to soar. The widespread practice of phoenixing is a major factor in consumers struggling to access the level of cover that meets their needs, and it is eroding public confidence in the private health system. I wish you all the best for your VCE exams, and would like to acknowledge and thank the teachers, school staff and families who have supported you through to your very own Grand Final. Continue reading...