APRA and ASIC yet to explain lapses to Hayne Royal Commission
As a sidebar to yesterday's set piece announcement by the Treasurer, Scott Morrison, on changes to tax rates and the funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, at a "doorstop" media conference Banking Day suggested much of the pain could have been avoided had APRA or ASIC taken a stronger role in stopping bad banker behaviour several years ago. We asked the Treasurer if and when these regulators would themselves be brought before the Commission in their own right to explain their own lapses, much as the banks have been forced to do, rather than appearing at the Royal Commission as occasional commentators.He responded that these were issues that would be delved into by the Royal Commissioner "at some point in time". "Who is called, and when, and how are matters for the Commissioner; they're not matters for the Government," he said. The Treasurer then took this as his cue to re-announce an increase in the resources for ASIC, "to increase their powers, new laws that we have legislated, already, to hold banking executives accountable, or itself or the increased penalties resources and powers." "So, they have the tools to get on and do the job that they need to do as a cop on the beat," he said.In this regard, today Louise Macaulay, senior executive leader of the team responsible for the regulation of the financial advice industry, is scheduled to front the Hayne Royal Commission as its final round two witness.