The Australian Banking Association (ABA) is the information source for the news media on the Australian banking industry, providing information, analysis and context on industry issues.
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Nearly 30 groups representing small, medium and large businesses, and universities, that employ millions of Australians, are calling on all governments to cut regulatory costs by 25 per cent to help consumers and businesses amid surging costs caused by the Middle East war. The Alliance of Industry Associations, which represents every part of the Australian… Read more »
The ABA welcomes government consultations on proposals to enhance consumer protections and reform the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) to ensure it is financially viable into the future. ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said the current model was not operating as originally intended and banks supported steps to reduce investment losses and redesign CSLR to… Read more »
This opinion piece by ABA CEO Simon Birmingham originally appeared in the Australian Financial Review. In an attempt to avoid domestic regulatory scrutiny, large foreign multinationals have developed a curious rhetorical strategy. The larger their footprint in Australia’s financial system becomes, the more strenuously they insist they are marginal, incidental or merely technical intermediaries. For years, Apple has… Read more »
The ABA acknowledges APRA’s proposed capital and liquidity changes. Australian banks share APRA’s commitment to maintaining a strong and resilient banking system. ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said banks will work with APRA to ensure any enacted changes lead to real benefits for the economy and Australians. “Banks will carefully review the liquidity proposals and will… Read more »
The ABA congratulates Sarah Court on her appointment as the new Chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). ABA CEO Simon Birmingham described this as a significant appointment and a landmark moment for Ms Court and Australia’s corporate regulator. “Sarah is an experienced regulator, having held numerous senior legal and regulatory enforcement positions… Read more »
E&OE Ali Moore: Yes, if you use a dating app, have you ever thought about how secure it is? And if you ever wondered about the sort of anti-scam regulations that they have to comply with, the big banks say that the rules are not tough enough for dating apps, as well as things like… Read more »
The CSLR was intended to give basic protection to mum and dad-type investors. It should not be a collectively funded vehicle for removing investment risk from society.
ANZ CEO Nuno Matos has been appointed as the new Chair of the ABA Council, as banks continue their focus on meeting the needs of customers as well as playing a crucial role in the Australian economy. At the ABA’s Annual General Meeting today in Melbourne, ING CEO Melanie Evans was also reappointed as Deputy… Read more »
The ABA welcomes APRA’s proposals to make the internal ratings-based (IRB) accreditation process simpler and more transparent, giving mid-sized banks a competitive boost. ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said the changes would support competition and deliver better outcomes for customers. “This is a practical and sensible pro‑competition step from APRA,” Mr Birmingham said. “When fully implemented,… Read more »
Australian banks welcome the Federal Government’s release of an updated Regulatory Initiatives Grid, helping to ensure there is more transparency and coordination when new financial rules are introduced. The ABA particularly welcomes new principles that streamline coordination between regulators, reducing duplication and regulatory burden across the industry. ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said the Grid was… Read more »
Deloitte Access Economics has now determined its recommended regulated pricing model for Armaguard’s Cash-in-Transit services. The final independent pricing mechanism report has been provided to Armaguard as well as the major banks and major retailers. This is an important milestone in working to keep cash available around Australia, even while people are using less of… Read more »
The ABA today acknowledges and thanks outgoing ASIC Chair Joe Longo for his strong leadership as Chair of ASIC for the past five years. ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said Mr Longo had made a significant contribution to ensuring Australia has a fair financial system focused on the interests of both investors and consumers. “The ABA… Read more »
Australian banks strongly support the RBA’s proposed ban on debit and credit card surcharges, while overwhelmingly calling for an alternative pathway forward on interchange fees. The ABA has made the following calls in a submission to the RBA’s current consultation on the Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging: ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said… Read more »
The Australian Banking Association (ABA) has welcomed today’s announcement from the Federal Government to bring forward the start of the Home Guarantee Scheme. Under the Guarantee, eligible first home buyers are able to purchase a home with a smaller deposit and avoid paying lenders’ mortgage insurance. ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said it made sense to… Read more »
The ABA welcomes the release of the Council of Financial Regulators’ (CFR) reviewinto small and medium-sized banks. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said the review findings and recommendations would helpensure there is a more level playing field for Australia’s small and mid-tier banks. “This is an important step forward in ensuring Australia maintains a strong andcompetitive… Read more »
The Productivity Commission proposal to tax business cash flow is an experimental change that hasn’t been tried anywhere else in the world. This tax increase risks putting more pressure on all Australians still struggling under cost-of-living pressures. While some businesses may benefit under this proposal, it risks all Australian consumers and businesses paying more for… Read more »
Good morning, Chair and members of the committee. Australian banks are committed to responsible lending rules, APRA requirements, and the Banking Code of Practice to protect consumers purchasing a home. Owning a home is central to the Australian way of life, and banks are committed to supporting first home buyers. In the last five years,… Read more »
Steve Austin: Do consider this scenario, a relative or a friend caring for an older person decides to dip into that person’s accounts to pay for their own holidays or home renovations. And the banking institution can see the money going out of one account into another account. And they want to flag it with the… Read more »
“This is about engaging with the entire banking ecosystem in order to ensure the accessibility of the sector’s services are best serving our diverse community now, and into the future.”
“Since the Banking Code was first introduced in 1993, the process to independently review the Code has continued to deliver improvements.”