On 8 February 2023, the following matter was referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 December 2023.
The current extent of bank closures in regional Australia, with reference to:
- the branch closure process, including the reasons given for closures;
- the economic and welfare impacts of bank closures on customers and regional communities;
- the effect of bank closures or the removal of face-to-face cash services on access to cash;
- the effectiveness of government banking statistics capturing and reporting regional service levels, including the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's authorised deposit-taking institutions points of presence data;
- consideration of solutions; and any other related matters.
Submissions closed on 28 April 2023.
On 14 September 2023, the Senate granted an extension of time to report until 16 May 2024.
On 18 October 2023 the committee agreed to reopen submissions until 29 February 2024.