Council of Financial Regulators Annual Report – 1998 Appendix B

Memoranda of Understanding between Council Members

The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

Objective

1. This Memorandum of Understanding sets out a framework for co-operation between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) which is aimed at promoting the stability of the Australian financial system.

Responsibilities

2. The responsibilities of the RBA and APRA for promoting financial stability are largely complementary.
3. The RBA's role is focused on the objectives of monetary policy, overall financial system stability and regulation of the payments system. It has no obligation to protect the interests of bank depositors and will not supervise any individual financial institutions. The RBA does, however, have discretion to provide emergency liquidity support to the financial system.
4. APRA is responsible for the prudential supervision of banks, life and general insurance companies and superannuation funds. Supervision of building societies, credit unions and friendly societies will transfer to APRA from State jurisdictions at a later date. APRA has powers to act decisively in the interests of depositors or policy holders and fund members if a supervised institution is in difficulty.

Sharing of Information

5. Full and timely exchange of information is a crucial element in co-ordination
   between the RBA and APRA.
6. The RBA gathers data and other information through its participation in financial markets and its pivotal role in the payments settlement system. APRA gathers a wide range of prudential data on the institutions which it supervises.
7. The RBA and APRA agree that, subject to legislative provisions, information available to one which is relevant to the responsibilities of the other will be shared as requested. Each organisation will provide relevant information to the other on a best endeavours basis, with due regard to the urgency of doing so.
8. When exchanging confidential information, the RBA and APRA acknowledge the confidentiality and secrecy requirements of the Acts under which they operate. Each organisation has the right to specify the level of confidentiality attached to information provided to the other.
9. The RBA and APRA will work together to avoid duplication in the collection of information so as to minimise the reporting burden on financial institutions. Subject to appropriate cost sharing, the RBA may arrange for information relevant to its responsibilities to be collected from financial institutions by APRA.
10. APRA will be responsible for the custody of all records relating to the supervision of banks, including those records transferred to APRA on its establishment. It will ensure that, subject to legislative provisions, the RBA has free and open access to these records.

Threats to Financial System Stability

11. If either the RBA or APRA identifies a situation which it considers is likely to threaten the stability of the financial system, it will inform the other as a matter of urgency. Responses to a disturbance of this type will depend on the particular circumstances prevailing, but in all cases the RBA and APRA will keep each other informed of their on-going assessment and will consult closely on proposed actions.
12. The RBA will be responsible for determining whether, and how, it might provide emergency liquidity support to the financial system. It does not see its balance sheet as available to support the solvency of an individual financial institution in difficulty.

RBA Participation in Prudential Consultations

13. To assist it in keeping abreast of financial developments and supervisory issues, the RBA will participate from time to time in APRA's regular on-site reviews of, and prudential consultations with, supervised institutions. The RBA will give APRA appropriate notice of its intention to participate in such reviews/consultations.

Consultation on Regulatory Policy Changes

14. Each organisation will notify the other of any proposed changes in regulatory policy, and provide the opportunity to consult on changes which are likely to impinge on the responsibilities of the other.

International Representation

15. The RBA and APRA will co-operate closely to ensure that Australia has appropriate representation in regional and international supervisory fora and training initiatives. In some circumstances there will be joint representation; for example, APRA will join the RBA in the relevant study groups of the Executive Meeting of East Asia and Pacific (EMEAP) central banks. In other circumstances only one institution will be represented; for example, APRA has assumed the RBA's membership of the Core Principles Liaison Group in the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision. In the latter cases, the two organisations will consult with each other as needed before and after the particular gathering.

Co-ordination Committee

16. A joint Co-ordination Committee will be established to facilitate close co-operation between the RBA and APRA. The Committee will be responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to respond to threats to system stability, and for co-ordinating information sharing. It will also handle operational matters such as statistical collections, joint research work and participation in international fora.
17. The Committee will be chaired by the Assistant Governor (Financial System) of the RBA and meet monthly or more frequently as required.

SYDNEY
12 October 1998

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

1. Objective

1. 1.1 This memorandum of understanding (MOU) sets out a framework for co-operation between the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) (the agencies) in areas of common interest where co-operation is essential for the effective and efficient performance of their respective financial regulation functions.
2. 1.2 The agencies agree that consistent with their separate roles they will co-operate where it is within their administrative powers to reduce duplication and compliance costs and achieve effective enforcement and compliance outcomes.
3. 1.3 This MOU is not intended to create binding obligations on either agency and each agency has the right to vary its terms at any time by agreement following consultation with the other agency.

2. Responsibilities

1. 2.1 APRA is responsible for the prudential supervision for banks, life and general insurance companies and superannuation funds. If the State and territory Governments agree, APRA will also be responsible for the prudential supervision of building societies, credit unions and friendly societies. In performing its functions to protect the interest of depositors, policyholders and fund members APRA is required to balance financial safety with efficiency, competition, contestability and competitive neutrality.
2. 2.2 ASIC is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the national scheme laws, being laws of the Commonwealth and the States in relation to Australian companies, securities, managed investments and futures markets; and for monitoring and promoting market integrity and consumer protection in relation to the Australian financial system, the provision of financial services and the payment system.

3. Regulatory Policy Development

1. 3.1 Changes in regulatory policy or regulatory decisions on particular matters by either agency may have implications for the other agency. Each agency thereforewill notify the other of any proposed changes in regulatory policy or regulatory decisions likely to impact on the responsibilities of the other and provide the other with the opportunity to comment on any proposed changes.
2. 3.2 Where implementation of regulatory policy or regulatory decisions by either agency has implications for the other agency, each agency will notify the other where such implementation is likely to impact on the responsibilities of the other.
3. 3.3 The agencies agree that, where appropriate, it is desirable for them to consult with each other in relation to policy statements and media releases, which are being formulated and which may be of interest to or have an effect on each agency. Where appropriate, the agencies may consider whether to issue a policy statement or media release on a joint basis, having regard to the subject matter of the release, the policy objectives of each regulator, and the objectives of this agreement.

4. Mutual Assistance

1. 4.1 The agencies recognise that it is important that they co-operate to promote confidence in the financial system and the confident and informed participation of all stakeholders in that system.
2. 4.2. The agencies agree to provide each other with mutual assistance in relation to the exchange of information, appropriate referral of matters and cooperation in regulation, compliance, and enforcement within the framework of this agreement and which is consistent with all relevant laws.

5. Co-ordination Committee

1. 5.1 A joint Co-ordination Committee will be established to facilitate close co-operation between APRA and ASIC. The Committee will operate according to a Charter and be responsible for ensuring the appropriate arrangements are in place for matters such as co-ordinating information sharing, joint inspections or task forces, referral of cases and enforcement action or major supervisory intervention. It will also coordinate operational matters such as administrative arrangements to avoid duplication, statistical collections, joint research work or training or industry consultation, and participation in international fora.
2. 5.2 It is envisaged that liaison in respect of routine operational matters will occur on an ‘as needed’ basis between appropriate staff of the two agencies.

6. Information Sharing

1. 6.1 Full and timely exchange of information is a crucial element in co-ordination between APRA and ASIC.
2. 6.2 APRA gathers a wide range of information on the entities, which it prudentially supervises. ASIC gathers a wide range of information in its role in monitoring and promoting market integrity and consumer protection in relation to the Australian financial system.
3. 6.3 The agencies agree that, subject to legislative provisions, information available to one agency, which is relevant to the responsibilities of the other agency, will be shared as requested. Each agency will provide relevant information to the other on a best endeavours basis, with due regard to the urgency of doing so. This will be subject to any relevant legal and operational considerations and any conditions, which the provider of the information might place upon the use or disclosure of the information, such as claims of legal professional privilege.
4. 6.4 When exchanging confidential information, APRA and ASIC acknowledge the confidentiality and secrecy requirements of the Acts under which each agency operates. The agency providing information has the right to specify the level of confidentiality attached to the information it provides to the other, in order to protect that information from unauthorised use, or disclosure. The agency receiving the information will take all reasonable steps to ensure such information is only used or disclosed for the purpose for which it was obtained.
5. 6.5 Each agency agrees not to disclose any confidential information obtained pursuant to this agreement to a third party unless it has obtained the prior consent of the agency which has provided the confidential information.
6. 6.6 Subject to appropriate cost sharing, each agency may arrange for information relevant to its responsibilities to be collected from financial entities by the other agency.

7. Unsolicited Assistance

1. 7.1 Each agency recognises that in the course of carrying out its functions and exercising its powers, it will come into possession of information which would, if provided to the other agency, be likely to assist that other agency in administering or enforcing the particular laws for which it is responsible.
2. 7.2 Each agency agrees, subject to legal restrictions, to use its best endeavours to notify the other agency with due regard to the urgency of doing so of the existence of any information of a kind referred to above, notwithstanding that it may not have received a request from the other agency for such information.

8. Cost of Provision of Information

1. 8.1 In general, the agency which receives the request for information shall bear the cost incurred by it in locating and providing the information to the agency who requests the information.
2. 8.2 If it appears to the agency that receives the request that it will incur substantial costs in responding to the request it may make representations to that effect to the requesting agency and the parties may negotiate a cost sharing arrangement in relation to the provision of that information.

9. International Representation

1. 9.1 The agencies will co-operate to ensure that Australia has appropriate representation in regional and international regulatory fora and training initiatives. In some circumstances there will be joint representation but where only one agency is represented it will consult with the other agency as needed before and after the particular gathering.

DATED this day 12 of October 1998