ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602

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Explanatory Statement

 

ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602

This is the Explanatory Statement for ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602 (Approval Instrument).

The Explanatory Statement is approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Summary

1. The Banking Code of Practice (Code) is a self-regulatory document created by the banking industry, as represented by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and is administered by an independent Code monitoring body. The Code sets out standards of practice and service in the Australian banking industry for individual and small business customers, and their guarantors. ASIC does not administer the Code.

2. On 19 December 2017, the ABA applied to ASIC for approval of its Banking Code of Practice (2018 Banking Code) under section 1101A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act). ASIC approved the 2018 Banking Code by issuing ASIC Corporations (Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2018/700. After ASIC issued the 2018 Approval Instrument, the ABA proposed a number of updates to the Code (June 2019 Code). ASIC approved the June 2019 Code by way of ASIC Corporations (Approval of Banking Code of Practice) 2019/663. In December 2019, the ABA proposed further updates to the Code for commencement from 1 March 2020 (March 2020 Code). ASIC approved the March 2020 Code by way of ASIC Corporations (Approval of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2019/1255 (December 2019 Approval Instrument).

3. The ABA has requested that ASIC approve a variation of the March 2020 Code. The variation comprises the insertion of a ‘Special Note’ (COVID-19  Special Note), the wording of which is contained in the Schedule to the Approval Instrument, immediately before the Table of Contents of the March 2020 Code. The COVID-19 Special Note is stated to commence on 1 July 2020 and will apply until 1 March 2021. The COVID-19 Special Note applies to banking services and guarantees during that period and has the following effects:

(a) While the COVID-19 Special Note applies, where a Code-subscribing bank does not meet, but has made good faith efforts to meet, the Code’s timing requirements in paragraphs 101(b) and (c), 102, 148, 164, 205 and 206, this will not amount to a breach of the Code. The substantive obligations in those paragraphs, along with all other requirements in other parts of the Code, continue to apply as usual. (Timing Requirement Wording)

(b) Clarification that the effects of COVID-19 may be relevant to Code subscribing banks’ obligations when considering providing new or increased loans to a small business borrower. Noting the potential inherent difficulties, due to COVID-19, in making predictions for matters such as the pace of economic recovery and in assessing a small business borrower’s ability to service such loans, the banks’ obligation to engage with the small business borrower in a fair, reasonable and ethical manner and to exercise the care and skill of a diligent and prudent banker will necessarily be informed by these matters and the effects of COVID-19 generally. (Small Business Lending Wording)

4. In relation to the Timing Requirement Wording, and specifically in relation to paragraphs 205 and 206 of the Code, the COVID-19 Special Note also requires that Code-subscribing banks must:

(a) at the time of acknowledging a person’s complaint about a banking service or guarantee, advise the person of the possibility of delays to the usual required notifications during the complaints process; and

(b) despite anything in the COVID-19 Special Note, inform the person, within 45 days of the person’s complaint (or such other time as specified for the relevant dispute in ASIC Regulatory Guide 165 Licensing: Internal and external dispute resolution), of the person’s rights to apply for external dispute resolution if the bank has not resolved the person’s complaint.

5. Also in relation to the Timing Requirement Wording, Code-subscribing banks have made a commitment to ASIC that they will track instances that would, but for the COVID-19 Special Note, have constituted breaches of the relevant timing requirements and provide information about these to the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) upon request. This commitment is intended to enable the BCCC, as the Code’s monitoring body, to maintain oversight over banks’ performance under the Code during the period of the COVID-19 Special Note.

6. The Small Business Lending Wording does not, and is not intended to, change any of the relevant Code obligations in substance. The Small Business Lending Wording simply provides Code-subscribing banks with confirmation of the already-existing position that the bank’s Code obligations to engage with a small business borrower in a fair, reasonable and ethical manner and to exercise the care and skill of a diligent and prudent banker will necessarily be informed by various relevant matters, including the present economic environment such as that caused by COVID-19. The confirmation offered by the Small Business Lending Wording is intended to give Code-subscribing banks the confidence to engage in small business loan decision-making in this extraordinary external environment.

Purpose of the instrument

7. The purpose of the Approval Instrument is to give ASIC’s approval of the ABA’s variation, comprising a the COVID-19 Special Note, the wording of which is contained in the Schedule to the Approval Instrument, immediately before the Table of Contents of the March 2020 Code.

8. ASIC has assessed the variation to the March 2020 Code and is satisfied, as at the date of issuing the Approval Instrument, that the March 2020 Code, as proposed to be varied, meets the requirements of subsection 1101A(3) of the Corporations Act. In particular:

(a) ASIC has assessed that the March 2020 Code, as proposed to be varied, is not inconsistent with the Corporations Act or any other law of the Commonwealth under which ASIC has regulatory responsibilities;

(b) ASIC is satisfied that there are arrangements in place to ensure compliance with the March 2020 Code, as proposed to be varied, (e.g. it forms contractual promises between the bank and its customer, its monitoring body is well-equipped to monitor compliance and take appropriate measures in response to non-compliance and customers may take breaches to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority for external dispute resolution);

(c) ASIC is comfortable that the March 2020 Code, as proposed to be varied, applies to an appropriate range of entities (i.e. ABA member banks) and that it does not substantially duplicate provisions in other codes of conduct relating to ABA members; and

(d) ASIC considers the March 2020 Code, as proposed to be varied, includes significant commitments beyond what the law requires.             

Consultation

9. ASIC engaged with a targeted range of stakeholders to invite their feedback on the content of the proposed variation (as well as the content of the earlier 2018 Code, June 2019 Code and March 2020 Code).

10. Stakeholders with whom ASIC consulted in relation to the proposed variation included small business representatives, consumer representatives and the BCCC. ASIC’s earlier consultations on the 2018 Code, the June 2019 Code and the March 2020 Code contributed to ASIC’s assessment of the proposed variation. This is because the March 2020 Code, as proposed to be varied, is based largely on the 2018 Code, the June 2019 Code and the original March 2020 Code (with respective updates).

Operation of the instrument

11. Section 2 of the Approval Instrument provides that the Approval Instrument commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. Section 5 provides that the variation of the March 2020 Code is approved.

Incorporation by reference

12. The Approval Instrument incorporates by reference the March 2020 Code.

13. The March 2020 Code is available at http://www.ausbanking.org.au.

Legislative instrument and primary legislation  

14. The subject matter and policy implemented by the Approval Instrument are more appropriate for a legislative instrument rather than primary legislation. This is because the instrument utilises a specific power given by Parliament to ASIC that allows ASIC to approve a variation of an ASIC-approved code of conduct relating to activities in relation to which ASIC has regulatory responsibility. The Approval Instrument is specific to the Code and the specific member banks that subscribe to the Code, which means a legislative instrument is more appropriate for dealing with this matter than primary legislation.

Legislative authority

15. Subsection 1101A(2) of the Corporations Act provides that ASIC may, on application, approve a variation of an approved code of conduct. The approval must be in writing. ASIC approved the March 2020 Code in December 2019 by way of ASIC Corporations (Approval of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2019/1255.

16. Subsection 1101A(3) of the Corporations Act provides that ASIC must not approve a variation of a code of conduct unless it is satisfied that:

(a) the code as proposed to be varied is not inconsistent with the Corporations Act or any other law of the Commonwealth under which ASIC has regulatory responsibilities; and

(b) it is appropriate to approve the code, having regard to the following matters, and to any other matters that ASIC considers are relevant:

(i) the ability of the applicant to ensure that persons who hold out that they comply with the code will comply with the code as in force from time to time; and

(ii) the desirability of codes of conduct being harmonised to the greatest extent possible.

17. Instruments made under subsection 1101A(2) are disallowable legislative instruments.

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

18. The  Explanatory Statement for a disallowable legislative instrument must contain a Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights under subsection 9(1) of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011. A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is in the Attachment.


Attachment

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

This Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.  

ASIC Corporations (Approval of variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602

Overview

1. ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602 (Approval Instrument) approves a variation of the March 2020 version of the Banking Code of Practice (Code) (which ASIC previously approved in December 2019 by way of ASIC Corporations (Approval of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2019/1255). The variation comprises the insertion, immediately before the Table of Contents of the March 2020 version of the Code, of a ‘COVID-19 Special Note’, the wording of which is contained in the Schedule to the Approval Instrument.

Assessment of human rights implications

2. The Approval Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

3. The Approval Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview

The ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602 was enacted to address the impact of COVID-19 on the banking sector, particularly concerning the Code’s timing requirements and the provision of loans to small businesses. This instrument, approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under section 1101A of the Corporations Act 2001, aims to provide relief to banks in adhering to certain obligations in the Banking Code of Practice, ensuring they can maintain operations and service under the extraordinary circumstances posed by the pandemic. The policy objective of the instrument is to enable banks to focus on serving their customers without being unduly penalised for delays caused by the pandemic, while still ensuring compliance with the Code’s overarching principles and maintaining consumer protections.

Scope and Application

The ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602 applies to banks that subscribe to the Banking Code of Practice, as represented by the Australian Banking Association (ABA), and their customers. The Instrument, which is a legislative instrument under the Corporations Act 2001, serves to approve a variation to the March 2020 version of the Banking Code of Practice. This variation includes the addition of a 'COVID-19 Special Note', effective from 1 July 2020 until 1 March 2021. The purpose of this variation is to provide flexibility in the application of certain timing requirements in the Banking Code of Practice due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19, while still ensuring that the substantive obligations of the Code continue to apply. The Instrument does not extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments but relies on the Banking Code Compliance Committee to monitor compliance and take appropriate measures in response to non-compliance. The Instrument is applicable nationally and does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, except for the provisions outlined in the COVID-19 Special Note.

Key Provisions

The ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602 (Approval Instrument) is a legislative instrument that approves a variation to the March 2020 version of the Banking Code of Practice (Code) (sections 2 and 5). The variation involves the insertion of a 'COVID-19 Special Note' immediately before the Table of Contents of the March 2020 version of the Code. This Special Note provides flexibility for banks during the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledging the challenges they face in meeting certain timing requirements in the Code (section 3(a)). Additionally, it clarifies that banks must consider the effects of COVID-19 when making lending decisions to small business borrowers and when processing complaints (sections 3(b) and 4). The obligations imposed by the Approval Instrument primarily fall on the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and the banks subscribing to the Code. The ABA must ensure that its member banks adhere to the provisions of the Code, including the newly inserted COVID-19 Special Note (section 3). Banks subscribing to the Code must make good faith efforts to meet the timing requirements outlined in the Code, while also considering the extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19 (section 3(a)). They must inform customers of potential delays in the complaints process and their rights to external dispute resolution (section 4). Banks are also required to track instances where they would have breached the timing requirements but for the Special Note and report these instances to the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) (section 5). Under the Corporations Act 2001, breaches of the Banking Code of Practice can result in civil consequences. Customers who believe a bank has breached the Code can lodge a complaint with the BCCC, which is the Code's monitoring body. If the BCCC finds that a breach has occurred, it can take various actions, including requiring the bank to remedy the breach, issue a public statement, or compensate the affected customer. While the Approval Instrument itself does not prescribe specific penalties, breaches of the Code can lead to actions by the BCCC that may have significant consequences for the bank. Additionally, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) retains the right to take enforcement action against banks that do not comply with the Code, which could include fines or other regulatory measures. The Approval Instrument is a legislative instrument that provides ASIC's approval for a variation to the March 2020 Banking Code of Practice, introduced to address the challenges posed by COVID-19. It allows banks to navigate the unique difficulties of the pandemic while still adhering to the principles of the Code. Banks are obligated to follow the Code, including the COVID-19 Special Note, and ensure compliance through internal monitoring and reporting to the BCCC. The primary consequences of non-compliance are actions by the BCCC and potential enforcement by ASIC, rather than specific penalties outlined in the Approval Instrument itself.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.