Q&A: Can debt-for-nature ‘swaps’ help tackle biodiversity loss and climate change?

So-called “debt-for-nature swaps” have regained prominence in recent years as part of efforts to raise finance for conservation efforts across biodiverse developing countries. These “swaps” are financial agreements in which a conservation organisation or government reduces, restructures or buys a developing country’s debt at a discount in exchange for investment in local conservation activities.  Despite…

Court wipes punter’s $150,000 debt

Victoria’s Supreme Court of Appeal has wiped a punter’s $150,000 debt after ruling paperwork failures rendered the bets invalid. Bookmaker David McLauchlan took action against punter Allen Ng after the punter incurred hefty losses between February and April 2020. The County Court ruled in McLauchlan’s favour in 2022, ordering Ng to pay the debt and…