Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 125 of 2023

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Prepared by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)

Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001, sections 13 and 15

Acts Interpretation Act 1901, section 33

Under subsection 13(1) of the Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001 (the Act), APRA has the power to determine reporting standards, in writing, 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 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.

Subsection 15(1) of the Act provides that APRA may declare a day on and after which the reporting standards are to apply.

On 2 June 2023, APRA made:

(1)          Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (reporting standard) determination No. 125 of 2023 which:

(i)            determines a new Reporting Standard LRS 340.0 Retained Profits and Policy Liabilities for Participating Business.

The instrument commences upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.

1. Background

In July 2017, the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) adopted the International Financial Reporting Standard 17 into AASB 17 Insurance Contracts (AASB 17). AASB 17 commenced 1 January 2023.

AASB 17 replaces three existing accounting standards used by life companies. These accounting standards govern the performance and liability valuation reporting of insurance contracts. APRA’s capital and reporting frameworks have close linkages with the accounting standards that determine accounting of insurance liabilities. As a result, APRA has made substantial updates to the capital and reporting frameworks for life companies to ensure compatibility with the new accounting standard from 2023 onwards. Aligning APRA’s prudential and reporting framework with AASB 17 also reduces regulatory burden by limiting the need for life companies to maintain dual valuation, actuarial, accounting and reporting systems.

The new reporting standards apply to reporting periods ending on or after 1 July 2023.

2. Purpose and operation of the instrument

The purpose of the instrument is to determine a new Reporting Standard LRS 340.0 Retained Profits and Policy Liabilities for Participating Business. This Reporting Standard sets out the requirements for the provision of information to APRA in relation to calculating a life insurer’s retained profits and policy liabilities for participating business.

The new reporting standard will ensure that APRA’s reporting framework aligns with its prudential framework and Australian Accounting Standards. Life companies will be required to provide data to APRA in accordance with the standard, allowing APRA to supervise their compliance against the new capital requirements.

Explanation of each provision in the instrument

Authority – paragraph 1

This paragraph outlines APRA’s power to determine reporting standards that are required to be complied with by financial sector entities under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the Act.

Purpose – paragraph 2

This paragraph explains the purpose of APRA’s collection of information under the reporting standard. Information collected under this reporting standard will be used by APRA for the purpose of prudential supervision including assessing compliance with capital adequacy standards.

Application and commencement – paragraph 3

This provision states which financial sector entities must comply with the reporting standard as permitted by section 13 of the Act, and when the reporting standard begins to apply to these financial sector entities as provided for in section 15 of the Act.

Information required – paragraphs 4 and 5

This provision states what information financial sector entities must provide to APRA for each reporting period as permitted by paragraph 13(2)(b) of the Act, and how information reported to APRA under this reporting standard is to be used under section 124 of the Life Insurance Act 1995.

Method of submission – paragraph 6

This provision specifies how information required by the reporting standard must be given to APRA as permitted by paragraph 13(2)(e) of the Act.

Reporting periods and due dates – paragraphs 7-10

Paragraphs 13(2)(d)-(f) of the Act permit reporting standards determined by APRA to include matters related to the times as at which, or the periods to which, the information in reporting documents is to relate, the giving of reporting documents to APRA, and when they should be provided, and the discretion of APRA, in particular cases, to vary reporting standards, including, but not limited to, the discretion to vary when entities are to provide documents. Paragraph (13)(2)(bb) of the Act permits reporting standards determined by APRA to include matters related to the auditing of reporting documents.

Paragraphs 7-10 rely on these provisions. Paragraph 7 states that life companies are to provide the information required by this reporting standard in respect of the first half-year based on the financial year of the life insurer on an unaudited basis, and in respect of each financial year of the life insurer on an audited basis. Paragraph 8 provides for APRA to vary the reporting periods mentioned in paragraph 7 in writing, if, having regard to the particular circumstances of a financial sector entity, APRA considers it necessary or desirable to obtain information at a different frequency than stated in paragraph 7. Paragraph 9 specifies the due dates for provision of information to APRA – half-yearly information must be provided to APRA within 20 business days after the end of the reporting period, and annual information within three months after the end of the reporting period. Paragraph 9 also states that in the case of information provided in accordance with paragraph 8, the due date will be as stated on the written notice. Paragraph 10 states that APRA may grant an extension of a due date in paragraph 9 in writing.

Quality control – paragraphs 11-13

Paragraphs 11-12 state that information provided under this reporting standard must be the product of and subject to systems, processes and controls developed by the entity for the internal review and authorisation of that information and subject to review and testing by the Auditor. Paragraph 13 states requirements for actuarial valuations and calculations included in or used in the preparation of the information provided to APRA.

Authorisation – paragraphs 14-15

Paragraphs 14 and 15 state how information provided to APRA should be authenticated and who is authorised to provide information to APRA for a financial sector entity.

Variations – paragraph 16

Paragraph 16 states that APRA may vary the requirements of this reporting standard in relation to a financial sector entity in writing, as permitted by paragraph 13(2)(f) of the Act.

Interpretation – paragraphs 17-18

Paragraph 17 provides definitions of common terms used throughout this reporting standard. Paragraph 18 states that unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to an Act, Prudential Standard, Reporting Standard, Australian Accounting or Auditing Standard is a reference to the instrument as in force from time to time.

General instructions

The general instructions contain details on the data to be reported to APRA under this reporting standard. Information in the general instructions applies to all data items in this reporting standard. This information includes definitions of terms that relate to the data reported to APRA under this reporting standard, and instructions on how to interpret the reporting tables.

Specific instructions

The specific instructions list the specific data items that must be reported to APRA and how financial sector entities should determine these items.

Documents incorporated by reference

Under paragraph 14(1)(a) of the Legislation Act 2003, the standard incorporates by reference as in force from time to time:

• Acts of Parliament;
• Prudential Standards determined by APRA under subsection 230A(1) of the Life Insurance Act 1995;
• Reporting Standards determined by APRA under subsection 13(1) of the Act; and
• Australian Accounting Standards determined by the Australian Accounting Standards Board under section 334 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

These documents may be freely obtained at www.legislation.gov.au (all documents listed above except for Australian Accounting Standards), and https://www.aasb.gov.au/pronouncements/accounting-standards/ (Australian Accounting Standards).

Review of decisions

There are a number of powers that may be exercised by APRA in reporting standards that involve an element of discretion and which may impact the interests of the life companies to which the reporting standards apply. These decisions include APRA changing a reporting period or due date for a life company to provide information required by each of the instruments. Decisions made by APRA exercising those powers are not subject to merits review.

APRA considers decisions made by APRA exercising discretions under its reporting standards should not be subject to merits review as they are financial decisions with a significant public interest element.

APRA’s reporting standards collect financial data from regulated entities. This data contains critical indicators of a regulated entity’s financial wellbeing. APRA relies heavily on this financial data to inform its supervisory actions towards its regulated entities. Without timely and complete data, APRA may miss indicators that a life company is taking on imprudent risk or is in distress. APRA’s supervisory decisions may be jeopardised if its receipt of data is unreliable due to entities seeking merits review under its reporting standards.

3. Consultation

The final round of consultation for this Reporting Standard closed on 19 May 2023. No submissions were received on this round of consultation, which contained minor amendments to the finalised reporting standards released in September 2022[1].

Throughout the consultation period, which commenced in December 2021, submissions were received from reporting insurers, industry bodies, and regulatory technology providers. APRA incorporated feedback received into the final versions of the reporting standards, including aligning with updates to the capital framework in response to industry feedback, adding clarification to reporting instructions and forms as requested by industry, and simplifying some reporting requirements in response to industry feedback.

APRA is satisfied the consultation was appropriate and reasonably practicable.

4. Regulation Impact Statement

The Office of Impact Analysis confirmed that a Regulation Impact Statement was not required.

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

A Statement of compatibility prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 is provided at Attachment A to this Explanatory Statement.

ATTACHMENT 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) determination No. 125 of 2023

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instrument listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (HRPS Act).

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

The purpose of the Legislative Instrument is to determine a new Reporting Standard LRS 340.0 Retained Profits and Policy Liabilities for Participating Business that incorporates updates to Accounting Standard AASB 17 Insurance Contracts and APRA’s prudential framework for life companies.

Human rights implications

APRA has assessed the Legislative Instrument and is 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 Instrument is compatible with human rights.

Conclusion

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

[1] New accounting standard – AASB 17 Insurance contracts | APRA