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The New South Wales Government is expanding a recycling trial aimed at curbing the growing number of lithium-ion battery fires, following a rise in incidents across the state in 2025.

The expansion comes after 200 fires linked to batteries were attended by Fire and Rescue NSW this year.

The trial, led by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), will roll out additional battery recycling drop-off points across metropolitan and regional areas. The program builds on a successful pilot launched last year, which tested the effectiveness of designated disposal stations at supermarkets, hardware chains and council facilities.

EPA Chief Executive Tony Chappel said the initiative was designed to remove dangerous batteries and keep communities safe.

“With more than 30 councils now pitching in to collect this problematic waste, we’re making it easier for people to keep batteries out of the bin, so we can protect our environment, increase our recycling rates and keep communities safe,” he said.

Lithium-ion batteries, found in products from mobile phones and laptops to e-bikes and power tools, are highly flammable if punctured, crushed or exposed to heat.

Under the expanded trial, NSW residents will be able to drop off used batteries at more collection points for free, with the EPA also focusing on public education campaigns to encourage proper disposal.

The EPA hopes the broader rollout will not only reduce the risk of fires but also lift battery recycling rates.

Strata living has become a defining feature of Australia’s housing landscape. More than 4.2 million Australians, around 15 per cent of the population, now live in strata properties, and this number is expected to grow as cities continue to densify.

This makes the regulation and management of strata communities not just an insurance issue, but a broader housing and consumer policy concern. Governments and regulators are increasingly focused on how strata is governed, how costs are managed, and how owners and residents can access professional advice in a complex environment.    

Within this context, insurance arrangements have emerged as a central focus. The regulation of the remuneration structures surrounding strata insurance has attracted the attention of policymakers with multiple states now examining how these remuneration structures impact transparency and consumer outcomes. 

In New South Wales, the Productivity Commission has been tasked with investigating the impact of a potential ban on insurance commissions for strata managers, following earlier work led by the Department of Fair Trading.  

The inquiry does not extend to insurance brokers, whose role is distinct and governed by financial services regulation and the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice. To support its engagement in the process, the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has assembled a reference group of strata-focused brokers to provide insights from practice and guide its advocacy throughout the review. 

The debate has gained momentum following the Strata Community Association NSW’s announcement that its members will begin phasing out commissions on strata insurance from 1 January 2026. This decision has placed further focus on how strata services are priced and disclosed to owners’ corporations. 

In Victoria the review of owners’ corporation legislation is already underway. While not the primary focus, as part of this review, the remuneration of strata managers will also be examined. NIBA has made a submission to the review, highlighting the importance of preserving access to professional insurance advice for owners’ corporations. 

The ACT has also examined these issues through its Legislative Assembly’s Inquiry into the management of strata properties. NIBA contributed to this review, appearing before the Inquiry to emphasise the importance of access to professional insurance advice and to caution against reforms that could undermine consumer outcomes. 

Across all three reviews, NIBA has emphasised the importance of transparency, advice, and advocacy for strata owners. It has underlined the distinct yet complementary roles that insurance brokers and strata managers play, and the need for reforms to recognise these differences. NIBA has also noted that advice and support are more important than ever as the number of people living in strata communities continues to grow. 

Taken together, these reviews reflect a trend of state-based inquiries into the remuneration structures within the broader strata sector. NIBA will continue to engage constructively with governments to ensure that reforms strengthen, rather than diminish, the accessibility and quality of insurance advice available to strata communities. 

NIBA has made submissions to two ASIC consultations on proposed changes to Regulatory Guide 183 on approval of financial services sector codes of conduct and Regulatory Guide 181 on managing conflicts of interest.

These submissions reinforce NIBA’s commitment to representing the broking profession and ensuring that regulatory reforms are proportionate, practical and supportive of positive consumer outcomes. 

In its submission on RG183, NIBA emphasised the diversity of the financial services sector, highlighting the key differences between product manufacturers and distributors such as insurance brokers. NIBA argued that ASIC’s guidance must be flexible and proportionate, ensuring obligations are meaningful and achievable across this diverse landscape. The submission welcomed ASIC’s proposed updates to reflect legislative reforms, clarify ASIC’s role and the code approval process and simplify RG183. 

ASIC’s consultation paper on RG181 concerned changes to ASIC guidance on  AFS licensees’ obligation to manage conflicts of interest. NIBA supported many of the proposed changes including the addition of illustrative examples of conflicts, guidance on “adequate arrangements”, and a roadmap signposting related obligations. The submission called for guidance to remain principles-based and materiality-driven, with operational clarity of documentation, record-keeping, and risk-based controls. NIBA also made a number of recommendations to clarify key areas for insurance brokers. ASIC expects to publish the updated regulatory guide in December 2025. 

Through these submissions, NIBA reinforces its role as the voice of the broking profession, ensuring that the sector is properly considered in the development of key regulatory reforms. By engaging directly with ASIC, NIBA is working to secure outcomes that enhance consumer protections, while ensuring that the regulatory framework practical, proportionate, and sustainable for brokers across Australia.