Consumer Affairs Victoria cracks down on under-quoting by real estate agents and other top stories.

• Consumer Affairs Victoria cracks down on under-quoting by real estate agents

  

  Consumer Affairs Victoria cracks down on under-quoting by real estate agentsUpdatedJanuary 10, 2016 17:50:47 Several prosecutions are underway after a crackdown on under-quoting by real estate agents in Victoria, the State Government says.Consumer Affairs Victoria has carried out 200 snap inspections of real estate sellers across the state, investigating incidents where real estate agents had advertised properties for a price that was less than the vendor's reserve price, or well under the l..

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• Rod Sims wants law change to combat anti-competitive behaviour by oligopolies

  

  Tyro Payments chief executive Jost Stollmann says strengthening the competition regulator's power through the misuse of market laws will stop the big banks from behaving anti-competitively.Christopher PearceCompetition regulator Rod Sims wants Treasurer Scott Morrison to strengthen the laws covering misuse of market power, to allow him to take action against anti-competitive oligopolies.Australia's newest bank Tyro has backed Mr Sims' proposal, saying it would stop the big banks from abusing the..

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• What can we expect from the stock market in China this week?

  

  Stock markets are bracing for another volatile week on worries over further devaluation of the yuan, a weakening economy and share sales of major shareholders after the end of a ban.“So far China in 2016 appears to be everyone’s worst nightmare come true,” Haitong Research said in a note, adding that it believes both the yuan and mainland A-shares will go further down after the Shanghai stock market fell 10 per cent last week and the offshore yuan shed 1.75 per cent.“Given the weak economic outl..

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• Livestock die on stranded ship in Perth

  

  Livestock die on stranded ship in PerthLivestock die on stranded ship in PerthMore than 30 livestock died on a ship while it was stranded in Perth for 10 days, but authorities still gave the vessel the all-clear to travel to South East Asia with the cattle.The MV Ocean Outback was originally destined for Israel carrying 13,000 sheep and cattle, but encountered engine problems while departing Fremantle Port on December 29.Ship owner Wellard Live Exports, which chartered the vessel to Otway Livest..

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• Warrandyte locals, Yarra advocate irate at toxic waste dump into river

  

  Locals Jeremy Loftus-Hill (left), Warwick Leeson and Jill Dixon, with Yarra riverkeeper Andrew Kelly, are among those concerned over the news of chemical waste in the Yarra near a Warrandyte swimming spot.Photo: Simon_O'DwyerWarrandyte locals said they were stunned and horrified at revelations Parks Victoria staff washed toxic chemical waste into the Yarra River near a popular swimming spot.They said it was irresponsible that neither the Environment Protection Authority nor the Environment Minis..

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