Finance

Busines, Law and Politics

Is it a gift or a loan when parents help kids buy a home? How to avoid family fights over money

by Mirella Atherton (Lecturer in Law) & Julia Cook (Senior Lecturer in Sociology)

Over recent decades, many Australian families have relied on getting money from the “Bank of Mum and Dad” to help with home purchases.But our latest research shows there are growing legal risks from that

Busines, Law and Politics

Money isn’t free. Here’s what to know before downloading a cashback app

by Mirella Atherton, Lecturer, University of Newcastle

“Cashback” apps make an enticing promise. You download an app or click on a web browser extension. You go about your online shopping as usual, spend money, but then get some cash back. It sounds simple, right?

Arts, Culture and Society

Buying with a sibling or rentvesting: some unorthodox approaches to buying a first home

by Julia Cook, Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Achieving the so-called “Australian dream” of home ownership is increasingly difficult for members of younger generations.

Busines, Law and Politics

From bean-counters to cyber-sleuths: how accountants are a frontline defence against online crime

by Zhongtian Li, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Business School, Christina Boedker, Professor, Newcastle Business School, Jing Jia, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Business School, Karen Handley, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Business School (University of Newcastle) and Nirmala Nath, Senior Lecturer, School of Accountancy (Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa - Massey University)

Once considered to be simply “bean counters”, accountants now play an important role in the defence, investigation and protection against cybercrime.

Busines, Law and Politics

The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is exposing older Australians to the risk of financial abuse

by Julia Cook, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at The University of Newcastle, and Peta S Cook, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Tasmania

Young Australians who would have once been locked out of home ownership are increasingly relying on the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad to get a deposit or to guarantee a bank loan.

Busines, Law and Politics

Australia will soon have its first Islamic bank. What does this mean, and what are the challenges?

by Abdul Shamsuddin, Md Safiullah (Safi)

Islamic banks have become an integral part of the financial system in many Muslim-majority countries, as well as in nations with sizeable Muslim minorities such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Busines, Law and Politics

A class action against Optus could easily be Australia's biggest - here's what is involved

by Mirella Atherton and Eliezer Sanchez-Lasaballett

With the Optus data breach exposing almost 10 million current and former customers to identity theft, law firms are circling for what could end up being the biggest – and most valuable – class action case in Australian legal history.

Arts, Culture and Society

Eliminating cashless debit cards

by Mirella Atherton and Amy Maguire

Eliminating cashless debit cards is great, but be careful about what comes next