With that in mind, here are the three questions anyone dealing with an Australian broker needs to ask to avoid getting stung.

James KirbyAssociate Editor - Wealth James Kirby, Associate Editor-Wealth, is one of Australia’s most experienced financial journalists. James hosts The Australian’s twice-weekly Money Puzzle podcast.He is a regular commentator on radio and television, the author of several business biographies and has served on the Walkley Awards Advisory BoardHe was a co-founder and managing editor at Business Spectator and Eureka Report and has previously worked at the Australian Financial Review and the South China Morning Post. Since January 2025 James is a director of Ecstra, the financial literacy foundation.
It’s become clear this week that we don’t really know how the mortgage broking market works, as a series of stories exposed the less savoury side of the industry.