Loretta Florance
Loretta Florance is a producer on the ABC's Specialist Reporting Team. She was previously a digital producer in the Melbourne newsroom and has reported and produced for ABC Local Radio, News Breakfast TV, and triple j's youth current affairs program Hack. She has also written and produced for Network Ten's The Project.
Latest by Loretta Florance
Optus reveals 10 times more people affected by triple-0 failures than previously known
Optus admits more than 2,500 people tried and failed to call triple-0 from their mobiles during last November's network outage, after previously telling a Senate inquiry just 228 people were affected.
Warnings 'unsustainable' surge in complaints about banks will create delays for consumers
Complaints about scams to Australia's financial dispute resolution scheme nearly double in one year, amid warnings it is putting "unnecessary pressure" on the independent umpire.
Scientists make promising breakthrough against superbug that attacks Australian ICU patients
Scientists discover a promising new class of antibiotic that targets one of the world’s most drug-resistant bacteria, but it's early days yet.
Flying this Christmas? See which airline has the most cancelled flights
Millions of Australians are braving packed airports around the country this holiday period, but some may be frustrated by delays and cancellations. See how each airline performs.
This mother feared she would end up in jail over huge phone bills, a problem experts say is greater than first thought
In 2021, Telstra faced court for its treatment of First Nations customers. New figures obtained by the ABC show the scale of the problem is much worse than first thought.
Damon spent $12,000 on his first car, but it soon cost him much more
Damon spent almost $12,000 on a second-hand car he barely drove. Trying to get it sorted was a long and complicated journey, and consumer groups are calling for change.
'I don't have time to be fixing up big companies' errors': Industry report shows rise of complaints about Optus
The telecommunications watchdog releases its annual report card on the country's telcos, and while complaints are down across the board, there’s one notable exception — Optus.
Australia has had four years to learn from Black Summer. Are we better prepared for this fire season?
For the first time in three years, Australians face the risk of significant bushfires. Are we any better prepared for big fires than we were before Black Summer?
Morocco's earthquake was more than 500km from fault lines, but experts are not surprised
Experts say the magnitude-6.8 earthquake that has devastated Marrakech and surrounding towns happened in area known for such activity.
First pelican breeding frenzy at lake since 1999 sustained by buying water from farmers, scientists say
A group of scientists finds despite billions of dollars spent on the Murray Darling Basin Plan, many of the indicators used to measure whether the environment is receiving enough water have been getting worse.
'Trying to hit the stars': ASIC takes legal action against collapsed company directors
Five former directors and officers of the failed funeral insurer Youpla are facing fines, after the corporate watchdog ASIC commenced civil proceedings over an arrangement to send the funds to a company in Vanuatu.
'It's going to get worse': Warnings for Australian summer after study shows climate change worsened Canada's wildfires
Canada’s record-breaking wildfires are significantly worse because of climate change, according to a rapid analysis by a leading team of scientists.
When Christine sold her home, the buyer used the same law firm. Things soon became 'very sticky'
It's legal for one law firm to represent both sides of a real estate transaction but legal experts warn it can make navigating conflict difficult.
'They should be outraged': Insider blows whistle on real estate 'kickbacks' he claims could hurt homebuyers
It's banned in three states, but in other parts of Australia conveyancers are paying real estate agents to recommend their services in a practice one insider has described as unethical even though it's legal.
Minister indicates Australia could follow UK and force banks to reimburse scam victims
The United Kingdom will force banks to compensate scam victims under a world-first scheme, and Australia's financial services minister now says he's considering similar rules here.
Pet insurance ban lifted after Woolworths, RSPCA, Guide Dogs and more pull policies
The corporate regulator allows dozens of pet insurance policies to go back on the market after issuing a ban that lasted less than a day.
'The stress was incredible': Marina says her battle with Telstra proves the industry needs new rules
An ombudsman report says too many telcos are failing to comply with the rules, and some of the rules are too soft, causing distress for phone and internet users.
This retiree googled 'money mule' after his bank told him he was one. What he found made him 'very nervous'
Mojib Rahman went from scam victim to "money mule", as he tried to recover his lost funds. Now his bank has apologised for the way it handled his case.
'Money mules' are working in teams and make up the majority of scams reported in Australia
Over a four-hour phone call, scammers gained access to Jenny's computer and transferred $300,000 out of her account. By the time she alerted the bank, it was too late.
Banks launch new weapon to help recover scam victims' money
Australia's under-pressure banks unveil a new tool to combat scam transactions, but consumer groups say they're still not doing enough to deal with an escalating problem.
Government reveals details of $58m anti-scams centre, with expert 'hit squads' targeting fraudsters
A national anti-scams centre is being established to help combat scams and online fraud, after Australians reported losing billions of dollars to fraudsters last year.
'How much further can I be gutted?': Donald hopes the government will deliver on Youpla's broken promises
For decades, funeral insurer ACBF Youpla sold policies to First Nations Australians despite attention from regulators. Now, two years after it collapsed, the government is still wrestling with how to compensate the company's customers.
'They made it sound so perfect and I lost the lot': The common scam that stole $1.5b from Australians in 2022
Australians lost more than $3.1 billion to scams in 2022, a new record and an 80 per cent increase from 2021, according to a new report that has prompted fresh calls for banks to do more to protect consumers.
Melissa has 'lost track' of how many times her business has been impersonated by scammers. She wants change
When scammers started using Magellan Logistics' name to trick Australian consumers, their phones ran hot, and the company didn't know who to turn to.
Australians losing millions to shipping container scams
Kim Ellison had a simple plan for retirement — to get away from the city, somewhere not too expensive but with enough room for family to stay. Scammers got in the way.