Negative daze as Hayne reports
A minimal, even lame catalogue of proposed criminal charges against banks and bankers. That's the tip about the imminent final report of Kenneth Hayne's banking royal commission. If correct, it is possibly the one finding - or lack of findings - that becomes an enraging centrepiece of the Hayne report, one that may see the likes of Chris Bowen and Bill Shorten hastily write their own recommendations, and pledging to implement them to the letter.It would all be easier and suit financial markets - and unquestionably serve the public interest - if Scott Morrison's government made an about turn and published the final report of the royal commission as soon as practical this morning. As things stand, the public release is after 4pm on Monday. Will there now be a drip feed to favoured names in the Press Gallery and the Sydney headquarters of the metro titles to prepare stakeholders big and small for the best and worst of Hayne's conclusions? We punted 'yes' to that question already this week, but maybe discretion will win the day. Any optimism that Hayne may unleash his inner radical - based on a reading of select sections of the interim report back in September - may be dashed, and here's hoping Hayne confounds on this one.In a coda to his interim report, commissioner Hayne set out 50 questions for the industry, informed by the first four of seven rounds of hearing.Asking many pertinent questions but, at the time, answering none, this short summation of the direction of his thinking then is a handy guide to the material Hayne will cover in the report he delivers, on deadline, to the governor general in Canberra today. In his interim report, Hayne posed the most vital question last."Is structural change in the industry necessary?" Hayne teased. Once again, fingers crossed.