Latest news with #penalties
Finextra
12 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
NAB charged $751,000 in penalties for breaching consumer data protection rules
National Australia Bank (NAB) has paid A$751,000 in penalties after being issued four infringement notices from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for not complying with the Consumer Data Right (CDR) Rules. 0 This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. NAB was accused of not disclosing, or accurately disclosing, credit limit data in response to four separate requests from different CDR providers. In order for consumers to remain protected, CDR requires financial institutions to ensure consumer data is accurate, complete, and up-to-date, and to be transparent in how they manage consumer information. By not providing accurate information on credit card limits, NAB impacted the services that fintechs provided to consumers using CDR data. ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe commented: 'Poor data quality prevents consumers from experiencing the full benefits of the CDR. When banks or energy retailers don't provide accurate data, consumers can't take advantage of CDR products and services to compare products, find better deals, manage their finances or make informed decisions about product switching,' The penalties from NAB are the highest paid for allegedly infringements for contraventions of CDR rules so far. The bank fully cooperated the ACCC's investigation.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong authorities to get tough on repeated misuse of public sports venues
Hong Kong authorities will ramp up penalties for those who repeatedly misuse public sports and recreation facilities, an official has said, noting authorities had handed out punishments for 13,000 such cases since the launch of a booking app in 2023. Raistlin Lau Chun, the acting culture, sports and tourism minister, said on Wednesday that the government would impose stricter punishment on venue hirers who repeatedly breached the rules, adding that authorities were still deciding on the appropriate penalties. 'The [Leisure and Cultural Services Department] has always paid close attention to unauthorised transfer or touting activities in relation to sports and recreation facilities, and has adopted a multipronged approach to combat touting activities, including enhancing the booking system on an ongoing basis, imposing penalty arrangements, and stepping up inspections,' Lau told the Legislative Council. He noted that the department conducted more than 890,000 random inspections between the introduction of SmartPLAY in November 2023 and May this year, resulting in more than 13,000 venue hirers being penalised for breaching hiring rules twice within 60 days. Those penalised were barred from booking any of the department's fee-charging sports and recreation facilities for 90 days, he added. Lau said the department also received 435 complaints related to venue-touting activities over the same period, 50 of which resulted in people being penalised. The acting minister said the department had conducted a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in July 2024 to combat touting and other illegal activities at tennis courts in Wan Chai.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Republican Senators' Bill Targets ‘Candy-Flavored' Cannabis Edibles
A group of nearly a dozen Republican senators have introduced legislation that would increase penalties for a varied list of federal crimes, including manufacturing candy-flavored cannabis edibles or drinks. The steeper penalties would apply if it is likely the weed edibles will be marketed to children, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported on Monday. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the group of GOP senators behind the measure, Senate Bill 1949. Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Louisiana's Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Maine's Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch of Idaho and North Carolina's Sen. Thom Tillis joined Grassley as co-sponsors of the legislation. Senate Bill 1949, dubbed the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act, would increase the penalties for violent offenses such as carjacking, robbery and kidnapping. Additionally, the legislation would 'Outlaw the marketing of candy-flavored drugs including marijuana and fentanyl to minors,' according to a brief on the measure from Boozman. 'Soft-on-crime policies have failed to ensure our justice system and law enforcement at all levels have the necessary authorities and tools to maintain order and protect communities from dangerous criminals,' Boozman said in a statement about the legislation. 'I am proud to join Senator Grassley and my colleagues to ensure violent offenders are held accountable under the law.' The bill does not specifically mention cannabis or marijuana edibles. But a section-by-section analysis of the measure maintains that 'manufacturers and traffickers of marijuana edibles and fentanyl and other illicit drugs are marketing and distributing these highly dangerous drugs as packaged candy (Nerds, Skittles, etc.).' 'For years, there have been reports of children, even younger than 6 years old, overdosing on these drugs due to edible consumption,' the analysis reads. 'This provision is the language of the 2017 Grassley-Feinstein Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act, which has not been reintroduced as a bipartisan measure this Congress. The language amends the Controlled Substances Act to provide enhanced penalties for marketing candy-flavored controlled substances to minors.' The bill would increase the penalties for manufacturing or selling Schedule I drugs including marijuana in the form of candy or beverages if there is 'reasonable cause to believe' the weed edibles will be marketed to children. Those convicted under the legislation, if passed, could receive an additional 10 years in prison for a first offense if cannabis products shaped or flavored like candy was sold to minors. Subsequent offenses would be punished with an addition 20 years behind bars. In a statement about the bill, Grassley pointed the finger at the Biden-Harris administration for what he characterized as a 'massive spike in violent crime' in the United States. 'As the Trump administration works to clean up the previous administration's mess, Congress has a duty to resolve any legal ambiguities that may weaken our ability to hold criminals fully accountable,' Grassley said. 'Our bill includes several modest, but meaningful, reforms to tamp down on future crime and ensure justice is served.' Senate Bill 1949 was introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 4. The measure has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Should Hong Kong hit Redhill Peninsula homeowners with heavier fines for illegal works?
Hong Kong authorities should appeal against the 'light' penalties imposed on two property owners for erecting illegal structures at their luxury Redhill Peninsula homes, experts have said, warning that the fines are not hefty enough to deter offenders. The specialists weighed in after the two property owners were told to pay more than HK$110,000 (US$14,015) in total after admitting to carrying out unauthorised building works. Their convictions are the first among 30 prosecutions made against landlords of the estate in Tai Tam where rampant illegal structures were found. According to the Buildings Department, the two owners pleaded guilty to carrying out unauthorised building works at Eastern Court on Thursday, with one fined HK$30,000 and the other HK$82,980. Lawmaker Andrew Lam Siu-lo said the sentence, from the view of the public, failed to serve any deterrent effect given the widespread nature of unauthorised works at the estate, although no details had been released about the structures found at the two homes. 'This is not a good message sent to the public regarding the government's crackdown on illegal structures,' he said. 'It shows that no matter how severe the maximum penalty can be, in the end the sentence will be light.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Major road rule changes coming into effect on July 1 across Australia
A sweeping set of road rule changes is being introduced across Australia from July 1, with tougher penalties, cutting-edge enforcement technology and nationally consistent speed limits designed to crack down on dangerous driving behaviours. From hefty fines over $1000 for mobile phone use to new obligations when passing roadside assistance vehicles, drivers in every state and territory are being urged to brush up on the new rules — or risk paying the price. In some cases, non-compliance could cost thousands and trigger licence suspensions. Mobile phone use will be under stricter surveillance than ever, as AI-powered detection cameras — capable of identifying drivers holding or touching their phones even at red lights — are activated or expanded nationwide. Penalties vary by state, but can exceed $1,000 and five demerit points. School zones and high pedestrian areas will also face speed limit changes across several states. From July 1, Victoria will expand Road Rule 79A, requiring drivers to slow to 40 km/h when passing roadside assistance vehicles, including tow trucks, breakdown support and incident response units — as long as flashing lights are activated and workers are visible. This rule previously applied only to emergency vehicles. The penalty: a fine of up to $961, but no demerit points. In high-pedestrian areas and school zones, there will also be speed reductions to 30 kilometres per hour. Little-known road rule with $600 fine shocks Aussie drivers Drivers warned major road rule change with $961 fines 'weeks' away Road rule warning after driver cops $1,775 fine, 22 demerits in one go Starting July 1, NSW becomes the first state to apply average speed cameras to light vehicles — including cars and motorbikes. These cameras, already in place for heavy vehicles, will be active on the Hume and Pacific Highways. A grace period with warning notices has been running since May 1, 2025, but enforcement with fines will begin from July 1. NSW is phasing out ticketless parking fines, addressing concerns over drivers unknowingly receiving fines without physical notices. As of July 1, Queensland is introducing a 3.5 per cent increase to fines across a range of offences, including speeding, seatbelt violations and mobile phone use. Distracted driving will be a particular focus, with enhanced enforcement tech and a tougher approach to infringement. Queensland is set to reduce speed limits from 50 to 40 km/h in select tourist and residential areas, including the Hervey Bay Esplanade and various urban neighbourhoods. South Australia's latest road rule change requiring drivers to slow down to 25 km/h when passing stationary breakdown service vehicles displaying flashing amber lights came into effect on May 19. The change extends the current protections for emergency vehicles and is part of a broader safety campaign. South Australia will also introduce 40 km/h speed limits across inner-city councils in the Adelaide metropolitan area, along with 10 km/h limits in shared pedestrian zones. From July 1, 2025, Western Australia will introduce a sweeping set of road rule changes aimed at improving road safety and reducing the state's road toll. Fines for traffic offences will increase significantly, including up to $700 and five demerit points for mobile phone use, and more than $1,600 for excessive speeding. Repeat offenders face licence suspensions. New AI-powered cameras will also begin detecting speeding, seatbelt non-compliance, and phone use, with enforcement to begin after a warning period concluding in May 2025. The state will also launch a three-year trial lowering speed limits on over 1,800 regional roads in the Busselton and Augusta–Margaret River areas, aiming to improve safety in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, off-road vehicle owners will be able to register their bikes online, removing the need for in-person paperwork. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
