Alternative means of providing banking and like services in regional Australia
Media Releases

Media release, 13 July 1998

REGIONAL BANKING INQUIRY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS IN PERTH AND NORTHHAM

Local Government, BankWest, the Wheatbelt Development Commission, the Hon. Max Trenorden MLA and a number of business and community groups will appear before the influential House of Representatives Financial Institutions Committee on Monday 13 July. Public hearings will be held in Perth followed by Northam. The public hearings are part of a wide-ranging inquiry into alternative banking for regional Australia being conducted by the Committee.

David Hawker MP, Chairman of the Committee, said, "In Perth the Committee is most interested in hearing from BankWest and the WA Municipal Association. In light of the recent ABA proposals we are interested in hearing what plans BankWest may have to provide financial services to regional and remote areas. Also, in the course of the inquiry, it has become even more apparent that local government has an important role to play and we will be canvassing a number of issues with the WA Municipal Association."

"In Northam we will be exploring a range of issues with the Wheatbelt Development Commission, Mr Max Trenorden MLA, the Shire of Kulin and representatives from the WA Telecentre Network who are running a number of interesting projects which have the potential to assist rural people to access financial services."

Mr Hawker added, "The Committee has so far been very successful in raising the profile of this important issue. The recent seven-point proposal put to the Committee by the Australian Banker's Association is evidence that the banks are now aware of just how important bank services are to regional and remote Australia. We are committed to finding the best possible solutions for people in rural and remote areas. Visiting regional areas allows the Committee to explore as many alternatives as possible."

Release ends
9 July 1998
Further information:
David Hawker MP (Chairman) 02 - 6277 4837
Janet Connaughton (Inquiry Secretary) 02 - 6277 2375
e-mail: EFPA.Reps@aph.gov.au

Details of Program and Committee membership attached
PUBLIC HEARINGS PROGRAM
PERTH AND NORTHAM, 13 July 1998

PERTH

Conference Room Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices
Level 39, Exchange Plaza
2 The Esplanade

9.00 - 9.30 am WA Municipal Association
9.30 - 10.00 am O'Connor Division of the Liberal Party
10.00 - 10.30 am BankWest
10.40 - 11.10 am Australian Women in Agriculture

NORTHAM

The Shamrock Hotel
112 Fitzgerald Street
Northam

2.00 - 2.45pm The Hon. Max Trenorden MLA
2.45 - 3.30pm WA Telecentre Network
3.45 - 4.30pm Wheatbelt Development Commission
4.30 - 5.15pm Shire of Kulin

Secretariat contact details:

The Secretary
Standing Committee on Financial Institutions and Public Administration
R1.121
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 4587
Facsimile: (02) 6277 4557
Mobile: 0418 434 971
EMail: FIPA.Reps@aph.gov.

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