The latest arrests in the mortgage fraud probe have been confirmed, with police now having seized $95 million in assets.

Join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian as they review the news of the week.

This week, they discuss:

• Major arrests in a multimillion-dollar loan fraud probe targeting accountants and criminal syndicates.
• Rate hike predictions from Westpac and Macquarie as RBA inflation fears escalate.
• Suncorp and ANZ's next integration steps.

And much more!

Accountants arrested and charged as alleged loan fraud probe widens https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48926-accountants-arrested-and-charged-as-alleged-loan-fraud-probe-widens Spring auction start falters as buyer urgency fades https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48907-spring-auction-start-falters-as-buyer-urgency-fades National dwelling values post first fall since 2022 https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48916-national-dwelling-values-post-first-fall-since-2022 Section 2Westpac flips as majors line up behind rate rise call https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48917-westpac-flips-as-majors-line-up-behind-rate-rise-call 'One big problem': RBA deputy governor warns rates may need to rise https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48920-one-big-problem-rba-deputy-governor-warns-rates-may-need-to-rise Broker says property downturn creating opportunities for borrowers https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48908-broker-says-property-downturn-creating-opportunities-for-borrows Section 3Suncorp informs brokers banking products will migrate to ANZ https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48906-suncorp-informs-brokers-banking-products-will-migrate-to-anz One Nation's early super access for mortgagors lashed https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48914-one-nation-s-early-super-access-for-mortgagors-lashed AFG Brett mckeon to retire https://www.theadviser.com.au/aggregator/48924-afg-co-founder-to-step-down

What does it take to move from the lender side of the fence to building an elite, high-volume brokerage?

Chris Raymond, founder of Unconditional Finance, joins host Annie Kane to share how he leveraged his back-office BDM expertise to scale a high-performing Sydney brokerage, structure his team, and build a succession plan that allows him to step completely off the tools.

Tune in to find out:

• How he niched down into the investor space.
• The model he uses to develop junior staff.
• His strategy for navigating tax changes while retaining key referral partners.

And much more!

Mortgage brokers are writing a record proportion of home loans in Australia, as more borrowers turn to the channel for credit advice in a changing market. But how high can market share get?

Join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian as they review the news of the week.

This week, they discuss:

• How mortgage brokers secured 81.6 per cent of market share.
• Key takeaways from Mortgage Choice's national conference.
• Why the spring property market may be a little different than usual this year.

And much more!

Specialist lending is no longer simply a solution for borrowers with impaired credit, with self-employed borrowers, investors, and customers with more complex financial circumstances increasingly looking beyond the mainstream lenders.

In this episode of In Focus, sponsored by Bluestone Home Loans, head of non-standard lending Aaron Taylor unpacks the forces changing the specialist lending landscape.

He also explores how brokers can use specialist lending to support clients through changing circumstances while building longer-term relationships that extend well beyond a single loan.

Tune in to hear:

• The borrower scenarios brokers may be unnecessarily ruling out.
• Specialist lending market changes and broker misconceptions.
• How brokers can use specialist lending as part of a longer-term client strategy.

And much more!

What does it take to transform a single-operator set-up into a high-performing, scalable brokerage? Building a resilient business requires completely different playbooks depending on your career stage.

In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane interviews Mortgage Choice franchise owner Luke Camilleri to discover how he went from faxing loan deals in a solo office to running an elite 11-person team in Parramatta.

Camilleri breaks down his 13-year journey of scaling a mortgage brokerage to top-tier performance, sharing the operational shifts, hard-learned lessons, and game-changing technology required to grow a sustainable business.

Tune in to find out:

• How he transitioned from doing every task himself to structuring a high-performing team.
• How his team leverages Google Gemini AI and open banking tools to streamline workflow.
• The power of co-locating with referral partners.

And much more!

With inflation proving stickier than expected and the RBA adopting a more hawkish tone in its latest minutes, several major banks have completely rewritten their rate calls.

So, could borrowers face another rate hike as early as September? Join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian as they review the latest CPI figures along with the biggest stories in mortgage and finance broking. The team also dives into fresh scrutiny facing private lenders, big themes from the latest round of lender reports, plus some of the highlights from the Australian Broking Awards. This week, they discuss:

• The shifting inflation picture and what it means for the RBA's September meeting.
• What strong non-bank results tell us about the lending landscape.
• A major announcement for the Women in Finance Summit 2026.

And much more!

News stories mentioned:

NAB predicts September hike in major forecast overhaul https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48867-nab-predicts-september-hike-in-major-forecast-overhaul

Majors flag rate-rise risk after 'hawkish' RBA minutes https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48861-majors-flag-rate-rise-risk-after-hawkish-rba-minutes

ASIC flags non-bank SME lending scrutiny https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48865-asic-flags-non-bank-sme-lending-scrutiny

Wave of new private credit compliance requirements unveiled https://www.theadviser.com.au/compliance/48863-wave-of-new-private-credit-compliance-requirements-unveiled

Non-banks reveal how they're scaling in a mortgage downturn https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48872-non-banks-reveal-how-theyre-scaling-in-a-mortgage-downturn

Turia Pitt to keynote Women in Finance Summit 2026 https://www.theadviser.com.au/growth/48860-turia-pitt-to-keynote-women-in-finance-summit-2026

Refinance activity is soaring as property dynamics shift, creating a goldmine of opportunity for brokers who know where to look

When federal budgets change and market pressures mount, adaptable brokers don't slow down – they pivot.

In this episode of In Focus, Annie Kane talks with Sergio Delvescovo, national sales manager broker at ING Australia, about how market volatility, new tax realities, and shifting borrower needs are fuelling a massive surge in refinancing and self-employed lending opportunities.

Tune in to learn:

• Why the shift toward refinancing and self-employed lending is opening new growth avenues for brokers.
• How ING Australia is listening to broker feedback to overhaul clawbacks and simplify credit policies.
• What role technology, fast settlements, and AI are playing in freeing up broker capacity and improving client outcomes.

And much more!

What drives a senior healthcare manager overseeing 300 support workers to leave executive life and step into mortgage broking?

Gold Coast-based broker James Allen, co-founder of Coastal Financial Consultants, made that exact leap after a decade spanning insurance broking and disability support management. Having crossed the first-year mark in his broking career, he brings a fresh perspective on client education, leveraging old-school networking, and navigating the early days of building a brokerage.

Tune in to find out:

• How he built an 80 per cent referral-driven pipeline.
• Why he uses AI tools to streamline client communication, compliance, and local market research.
• His hands-on strategies for guiding first home buyers through the market and deposit schemes.

And much more!

AUSTRAC has referred over 200 entities, including brokers, lawyers, and accountants, to authorities over suspected mortgage fraud following a major operation. But that is just the tip of the iceberg in a week packed with massive industry updates. Join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian break down what AUSTRAC has discovered in its latest mortgage fraud probe, which has uncovered potentially hundreds of millions in suspected fraud, and the vulnerabilities being exposed across the lending sector.

This week, they discuss:

• What AUSTRAC uncovered in Operation Claw.
• The widespread pullback in nationwide mortgage demand.
• The government's long-awaited CSLR overhaul.

And much more! News stories mentioned:

AUSTRAC refers brokers to authorities in mortgage fraud probe https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48830-austrac-refers-brokers-to-authorities-in-mortgage-fraud-probe Associations urge united action on mortgage fraud response https://www.theadviser.com.au/compliance/48833-associations-urge-united-action-on-mortgage-fraud-response Home loan commitments plummet as investor lending slumps https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48814-home-loan-commitments-plummet-as-investor-lending-slumps Property downturn extends into regional Australia https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48826-property-downturn-extends-into-regional-australia Number of FHBs with 5% deposit loans in negative equity revealed https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48819-number-of-fhbs-with-5-deposit-loans-in-negative-equity-revealed Viridian mothballs Smartmove brand, relaunches broking business https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48823-viridian-mothballs-smartmove-brand-launches-new-broking-business Government announces major changes to CSLR https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48835-government-announces-major-changes-to-cslr

What happens when a deal looks perfect on paper until a last-minute valuation shortfall, stamp duty gap, or LMI threshold threatens to derail it completely?

In this episode of In Focus, sponsored by Latitude Financial, host Annie Kane speaks with Natasha Murray, general manager, broker and partnerships at Latitude Financial, about how brokers can solve funding shortfalls and help more clients achieve their property goals.

Tune in to learn:

• What's driving the rise of funding gaps at settlement day.
• Practical ways brokers can diversify their revenue while navigating complex borrowing scenarios.
• How Latitude's Funds to Complete product is helping brokers find a solution before settlement day.

And much more!