Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 1 of 2016 - GRS 001 - Reporting Requirements

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2016L01225 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Financial Sector (Collection of Data) determination Nos. 1 to 15 of 2016

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Prepared by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)

Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001(the Act), subsections 13(1) and 15(1)

Acts Interpretation Act 1901, subsection 33(3)

Under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the Act, APRA may, by writing, determine reporting standards with which financial sector entities must comply.  Such standards relate to reporting financial or accounting data and other information regarding the business or activities of the entities.  Subsection 15(1) of the Act provides that APRA may declare a day on and after which the reporting standards are to apply.

Subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 provides that where an Act confers a power to issue an instrument the power shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to revoke any such instrument.

On 19 July 2016, APRA made the following determinations (the instruments):

  1. Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 1 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 001 Reporting Requirements made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 1 of 2013; and

(ii)               determines Reporting Standard GRS 001 Reporting Requirements;

 

2.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 2 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 110.1_G Prescribed Capital Amount (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 27 of 2013; and

(ii)               determines Reporting Standard GRS 110.1_G Prescribed Capital Amount;

 

3.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 3 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 112.0_G Determination of Capital Base (Level 2 Insurance Group) made  under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No.28 of 2013; and

(ii)               determines Reporting Standard GRS 112.0_G Determination of Capital Base (Level 2 Insurance Group);

4.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 4 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 112.3_G Related Party Exposures (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 29 of 2013; and

(ii)               determines Reporting Standard GRS 112.3_G Related Party Exposures (Level 2 Insurance Group);

5.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 5 of 2016 which:

(i)                    revokes Reporting Standard GRS 114.0_G Asset Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 30 of 2013; and

(ii)               determines Reporting Standard GRS 114.0_G Asset Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);

6.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 6 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 114.1_G Assets by Counterparty Grade (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 31 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 114.1_G Assets by Counterparty Grade (Level 2 Insurance Group);

7.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 7 of 2016 which

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 114.3_G Off-balance Sheet Business (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 32 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 114.3_G Off-balance Sheet Business (Level 2 Insurance Group);

8.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 8 of 2016 which

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 115.0_G Outstanding Claims Liabilities – Insurance Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 33 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 115.0_G Outstanding Claims Liabilities – Insurance Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);

9.      Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 9 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 115.1_G Premiums Liabilities – Insurance Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 34 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 115.1_G Premiums Liabilities – Insurance Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);

10.  Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 10 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 116.0_G Insurance Concentration Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 35 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 116.0_G Insurance Concentration Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);

11.  Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 11 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 117.0_G Asset Concentration Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 36 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 117.0_G Asset Concentration Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);

12.  Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 12 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 118.0_G Operational Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 37 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 118.0_G Operational Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);

13.  Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 13 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 300.0_G Statement of Financial Position (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 38 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 300.0_G Statement of Financial Position (Level 2 Insurance Group);

14.  Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 14 of 2016 which:

(i)                  revokes Reporting Standard GRS 302.0_G Statement of Financial Position by Region (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 39 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 302.0_G Statement of Financial Position by Region (Level 2 Insurance Group); and

15.  Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 15 of 2016 which:

(i)                   revokes Reporting Standard GRS 310.0_G Income Statement (Level 2 Insurance Group) made under Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 40 of 2013; and

(ii)                determines Reporting Standard GRS 310.0_G Income Statement (Level 2 Insurance Group).

 

The instrument commences on 30 June 2016 and applies to reporting periods ending on and after that date.  The instruments are being registered after this date; however, parent entities of Level 2 insurance groups will not be adversely impacted by this retrospective operation as APRA has removed the duplicate reporting requirement to reduce unnecessary reporting for the parent entities. No parent entity’s rights will be adversely affected, nor will any liabilities be imposed by these instruments, as the time for lodging forms with APRA for the parent entities of Level 2 insurance groups will arise no earlier than three months after the June reporting period.

 

  1. Background

Until now, Level 2 insurance groups have provided two unaudited semi-annual returns and an audited annual return each financial year. The second unaudited semi-annual return was due one month prior to the audited annual return, and was used by APRA supervisors to review capital position and financial performance prior to submission of the audited return.

The due dates for audited annual return submission was made one month earlier for reporting periods after 1 January 2015, making it due on the same day as the unaudited second semi-annual return.

Consistent with APRA’s commitment to look for opportunities to reduce compliance costs for business and the community, APRA has removed this duplicate reporting requirement to reduce unnecessary reporting for Level 2 insurance groups.

 

2.      Purpose and operation of the instrument

 

The purpose of the instrument is to remove the second semi-annual return for Level 2 insurance groups and reduce their reporting burden by amending the reporting standards.

 

3.      Consultation

 

In 2014, APRA undertook a project to identify opportunities for regulatory cost savings for industry. As part of the project, APRA undertook a structured consultation process with each APRA-regulated industry (via the relevant industry associations). Together, the membership of these industry associations represented all APRA-regulated industries. Submissions from industry bodies suggested that changes to the reporting framework could be made in areas where the frequency of reporting could be reduced.

 

In 2015, the duplicate reporting requirement represented by the unaudited Level 2 second semi-annual and audited Level 2 annual forms falling due on the same day was identified by industry participants and APRA as an opportunity for regulatory costs savings.

 

Removing the duplicate reporting and reducing the burden on industry is overall beneficial to industry and as it was resultant of earlier engagement with industry further consultation with industry was not considered necessary.

 

4.      Regulatory Impact Statement

 

APRA has consulted with the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) and the OBPR has confirmed that the changes implemented by the instrument are of a minor nature. The OBPR has confirmed that a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) is not required.  

 

5.      Statement of compatibility prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is Appendix A to this Explanatory Statement.

 

Appendix A

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

 

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determinations No. 1 to 15 of 2016

 

This Legislative 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 (HRPS Act).

 

Overview of the Legislative Instruments

 

These Legislative Instruments removes the requirement to report the second semi-annual return for Level 2 insurance groups in the following reporting standards:

 

  •   Reporting Standard GRS 110.1_G Prescribed Capital Amount  (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 112.0_G Determination of Capital Base (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 112.3_G Related Party Exposures (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 114.0_G Asset Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 114.1_G Assets by Counterparty Grade (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 114.3_G Off-balance Sheet Business (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 115.0_G Outstanding Claims Liabilities - Insurance Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 115.1_G Premiums Liabilities - Insurance Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 116.0_G Insurance Concentration Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 117.0_G Asset Concentration Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 118.0_G Operational Risk Charge (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 300.0_G Statement of Financial Position (Level 2 Insurance Group);
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 302.0_G Statement of Financial Position by Region (Level 2 Insurance Group); and
  •   Reporting Standard GRS 310.0_G Income Statement (Level 2 Insurance Group).

 

 

Human rights implications

 

APRA has assessed the instruments and are of the view that it does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the HRPS Act.  Accordingly, in APRA’s assessment, the instruments are compatible with human rights.

 

Conclusion

 

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Overview

The Financial Sector (Collection of Data) determinations Nos. 1 to 15 of 2016 were enacted by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) under the Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001. These determinations were introduced to address inefficiencies and unnecessary reporting burdens on Level 2 insurance groups. APRA's objective in issuing these instruments was to streamline the regulatory framework by removing duplicate reporting requirements, thus reducing compliance costs for financial sector entities. The determinations revoke certain existing reporting standards and introduce new standards to reflect the changes. The instruments commenced on 30 June 2016, applying to reporting periods ending on and after that date, with the aim of alleviating the reporting burden on Level 2 insurance groups without adversely impacting their rights or imposing new liabilities. This initiative aligns with APRA's broader commitment to enhancing regulatory efficiency and minimizing the administrative load on industry participants.

Scope and Application

The Financial Sector (Collection of Data) determination Nos. 1 to 15 of 2016, made by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) under the Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001, apply to Level 2 insurance groups within the Australian financial sector. These instruments seek to streamline reporting standards by removing the requirement for a second semi-annual unaudited return, which had previously been due on the same day as the audited annual return, thereby reducing the reporting burden on these entities. Each determination revokes a previously existing reporting standard and establishes a new one, effective from 30 June 2016 for reporting periods ending on or after that date. These legislative instruments do not adversely impact the rights or impose any liabilities on the parent entities of Level 2 insurance groups, as the deadlines for lodging reports have been adjusted to ensure there is no premature requirement for compliance. APRA’s actions in this regard align with its commitment to reducing regulatory costs and improving efficiency in the financial sector. The instruments do not specify any exclusions or thresholds and are subject to the revocation power under the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. APRA has assessed these instruments to be compatible with human rights, as they do not engage any of the rights or freedoms recognised in relevant international instruments.

Key Provisions

The Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Determination Nos. 1 to 15 of 2016, issued by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), primarily focus on amending the reporting standards for financial sector entities, specifically Level 2 insurance groups, under the Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001 (the Act). These determinations (sections 1 to 15) revoke existing reporting standards (subsection 13(1)) and establish new reporting requirements (subsection 15(1)). The new standards eliminate the need for a second semi-annual return for Level 2 insurance groups, thereby reducing their reporting burden. The changes apply to reporting periods ending on or after 30 June 2016. These determinations impose specific obligations on financial sector entities. Level 2 insurance groups must now adhere to the new reporting standards, which remove the requirement for a second semi-annual return. Instead, they are required to submit a single unaudited semi-annual return and an audited annual return each financial year. This change aims to streamline reporting processes and reduce unnecessary duplication for these entities. The new standards cover various aspects of financial reporting, including prescribed capital amounts, capital bases, related party exposures, asset risk charges, and other financial metrics relevant to the insurance sector. Failure to comply with the reporting standards established by these determinations may lead to legal consequences. While the Act itself does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for non-compliance with these determinations, entities that fail to adhere to the mandated reporting standards may face regulatory scrutiny, enforcement actions, or other penalties as prescribed by APRA. The primary focus of these determinations is to ensure that financial sector entities comply with the specified reporting requirements to maintain regulatory oversight and financial stability within the sector. Overall, these determinations seek to streamline the reporting process for Level 2 insurance groups by eliminating redundant reporting requirements. By doing so, they aim to reduce the compliance burden on these entities while maintaining essential regulatory oversight. Compliance with these new standards is crucial for ensuring that financial sector entities meet their regulatory obligations and contribute to the stability and transparency of the financial system.

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