Seeking why the Government decided NOT to enforce the ACCC’s 2019 recommendation that Payee Confirmation be required of the Banks

Currently waiting for a response from Department of the Treasury, they should respond promptly and normally no later than (details).

Dear Department of the Treasury,

I request briefing information either sought by, or provided to the Government relating to why the Government decided NOT to act on the ACCC’s 2019 recommendation that Payee Confirmation be required of the Banks.

The timeframe I seek is from 2021 until now. I would like the information requested to include the following:


• Any legal advice, reports, or briefings requested, to or from the Public Service or Government, including any provided by or to the Banks or the ABA to the Government;

• Any briefs provided regarding discussions between the Government and the Banks (whether through the ABA or individual Banks) relating to this subject matter;

• Any briefs to the Government relating to this (including any Ministerial signed documents).

Exclusions:
1. Please do not provide documents that are duplicates wholly or in substance (eg emails to multiple stakeholders with the same content, reply emails).
2. Also, please redact any content that would require consultation with third parties.

Yours faithfully,
Harriet Spring

Dear Department of the Treasury,

I request briefing information either sought by, or provided to the Government relating to why the Government decided NOT to enforce the ACCC’s 2019 recommendation that Payee Confirmation be required of the Banks.

The timeframe I seek is from 2019 until now. I would like the information requested to include the following:


• Any reports, or briefings requested, to or from the Public Service or Government, including any provided by or to the Banks or the ABA to the Government;

• Any briefs provided regarding discussions between the Government and the Banks (whether through the ABA or individual Banks) relating to this subject matter;

• Any briefs to the Government relating to this (including any Ministerial signed documents).
Exclusions:
1. Please do not provide documents that are duplicates wholly or in substance (eg emails to multiple stakeholders with the same content, reply emails).
2. Also, please redact any content that would require consultation with third parties.

Yours faithfully,

Harriet Spring

FOI, Department of the Treasury

OFFICIAL

Dear Ms Spring,

We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), seeking the following documents:

The timeframe I seek is from 2019 until now. I would like the information requested to include the following:
+ICI- Any reports, or briefings requested, to or from the Public Service or Government, including any provided by or to the Banks or the ABA to the Government+ADs-
+ICI- Any briefs provided regarding discussions between the Government and the Banks (whether through the ABA or individual Banks) relating to this subject matter+ADs-
+ICI- Any briefs to the Government relating to this (including any Ministerial signed documents).

Exclusions:
1. Please do not provide documents that are duplicates wholly or in substance (eg emails to multiple stakeholders with the same content, reply emails).
2. Also, please redact any content that would require consultation with third parties.

Your request was received on 25 September 2024. The FOI Act provides that we have 14 days to acknowledge, and 30 days to process, the request. This period may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.

We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the amount of any such charge as soon as possible.

We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request. These are set out below.

It is our usual practice:
+ICI- not to disclose the personal information of government employees or the personal contact details of senior government employees (including those of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be released.
+ICI- not to release duplicates of any document captured within the scope of the request.
+ICI- only the final version of a document will be considered within scope.

Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your request.

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

If you have any questions in relation to your application, please contact the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.

Kind regards

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury
Ph: +-61 2 6263 2800
e: foi+AEA-treasury.gov.au

The Department of the Treasury (the Treasury) may collect your personal information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, our functions, including those under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and the Privacy Act 1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number in order to contact you about your request or privacy complaint. We hold personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act and our privacy policy. If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the Privacy Officer on 02 6263 1384 or via e-mail privacy+AEA-treasury.gov.au. You can find further information about how the Treasury handles personal information in the Treasury+IBk-s privacy policy.

OFFICIAL

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FOI, Department of the Treasury

OFFICIAL

Dear Ms Spring,

We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), seeking the following documents:

Briefing information either sought by, or provided to the Government relating to why the Government decided NOT to act on the ACCC+IBk-s 2019 recommendation that Payee Confirmation be required of the Banks.

The timeframe I seek is from 2021 until now. I would like the information requested to include the following:
+ICI- Any legal advice, reports, or briefings requested, to or from the Public Service or Government, including any provided by or to the Banks or the ABA to the Government+ADs-
+ICI- Any briefs provided regarding discussions between the Government and the Banks (whether through the ABA or individual Banks) relating to this subject matter+ADs-
+ICI- Any briefs to the Government relating to this (including any Ministerial signed documents).

Exclusions:
1. Please do not provide documents that are duplicates wholly or in substance (eg emails to multiple stakeholders with the same content, reply emails).
2. Also, please redact any content that would require consultation with third parties.

Your request was received on 25 September 2024. The FOI Act provides that we have 14 days to acknowledge, and 30 days to process, the request. This period may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.

We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the amount of any such charge as soon as possible.

We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request. These are set out below.

It is our usual practice:
+ICI- not to disclose the personal information of government employees or the personal contact details of senior government employees (including those of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be released.
+ICI- not to release duplicates of any document captured within the scope of the request.
+ICI- only the final version of a document will be considered within scope.

Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your request.

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

If you have any questions in relation to your application, please contact the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.

Kind regards

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury
Ph: +-61 2 6263 2800
e: foi+AEA-treasury.gov.au

The Department of the Treasury (the Treasury) may collect your personal information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, our functions, including those under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and the Privacy Act 1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number in order to contact you about your request or privacy complaint. We hold personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act and our privacy policy. If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the Privacy Officer on 02 6263 1384 or via e-mail privacy+AEA-treasury.gov.au. You can find further information about how the Treasury handles personal information in the Treasury+IBk-s privacy policy.

OFFICIAL

show quoted sections

Dear FOI,

I agree to your proposed assumptions, with the exception that if draft versions contain new information not covered in the final version, I would like these provided.

Yours sincerely,

Harriet Spring