ABA Response to Senate inquiry into Australian Government’s response to COVID-19
2 June 2020
The response incorporates initiatives on loan deferrals and lending, banking accessibility, and electronic conveyancing and electronic mortgages. These measures were designed to support consumers and businesses through this difficult time and intended to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on bank customers.
Download PDFTreasury RIS consultation on Enhancements to Unfair Contract Term Provisions
27 May 2020
The Australian Banking Association (ABA) supports an effective regulatory regime that provides consumers and small business with a strong level of protection from unfair contract terms (UCTs) in standard form contracts. In our view, making UCTs illegal and attaching penalties will result in a more legalistic approach to contracting and an adversarial process with regulators. We believe that a supervisory focused enforcement approach by regulators can best deliver improved outcomes for small business.
Download PDFLessons learned from the Australian bushfire season 2019-20
22 May 2020
The ABA has set up a natural disasters work program that reports to our 16 Council members in order to clarify, strengthen and streamline the banking industry’s response to natural disasters to ensure that they have the right tools for the job at the right time. By the beginning of March 2020, the major banks had provided bushfire assistance grants totalling $7.6 million to more than 4,000 customers across Australia. The banks had also raised more than $42 million in donations to help devastated communities and assisted more than 3,500 customers with financial relief packages of the types described below.
Download PDFInquiry into Future Directions for the Consumer Data Right
21 May 2020
The ABA supports the ongoing development and expansion of the Consumer Data Right (CDR). As the first sector to launch with Open Banking, the banking industry has contributed significantly to operationalising the CDR vision through expertise within the sector as well as providing the Open Banking systems through which the first consumer data will flow in the CDR.
Download PDFAusPayNet application for revocation of authorisation A91497 and A91498 and substitution of AA1000495
6 May 2020
The ABA supports the AusPayNet application for re-authorisation. The ABA considers the Issuers and Acquirers Community (IAC) framework provides opportunities for coordination, self-regulation and policy setting which delivers important public benefits.
Download PDFAPG 220 Credit Risk Management Submission
19 March 2020
The ABA is supportive of modernising prudential guidance in line with contemporary credit risk management practices. However, it is important to ensure that any new guidance sits comfortably within a predictable and transparent regulatory framework for ADIs
Download PDFProposed timetable for participation of non-major ADIs in the CDR
3 March 2020
In discussions between the ACCC, ABA and non-major banks on 13 February 2020, the ABA and members unanimously expressed their concern for the 1 February 2021 launch for phase 1 products. Members reconfirmed the importance for maintaining a 12-month implementation timeline from the major banks’ launch date.
Download PDFModel Participation Rules – ARNECC Consultation Draft Version 6
2 March 2020
The proposed amendments to the MPR are significant and the ABA is strongly opposed to Draft Version 6 of the MPR in their current form. The ABA is not aware of any instance of identity fraud in the electronic e-conveyancing system that would warrant such significant and costly changes.
Download PDFARS 115 Standardised measurement approach to operational risk
24 February 2020
The ABA asks APRA to consider the ARS 115 consistency with the accounting standard and consistency with current data consultation outcomes.
Download PDFSenate Economics Committee Inquiry into the Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019 [Provisions]
17 February 2020
The ABA strongly supports the Government’s initiative to help small businesses grow by coinvesting with banks to establish this Australian Business Growth Fund. The Fund is designed to provide equity finance to qualifying businesses across a range of industries and locations.
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