In common law countries, the courts have an important role in the development of new insolvency mechanisms. Following the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, a vexed question in many advanced economies was whether the law might contemplate the reduction of mortgage debt of financially stricken households. In the…

As household debt increases and disposable income falls, more and more Australians are experiencing financial stress. Senior Lecturer Nicola Howell’s PhD research explores how consumer credit, debt and personal insolvency laws work in practice and whether they provide sufficient protection, particularly for those that are vulnerable or disadvantaged.…