If your newsagency has been negatively impacted by a bank branch closure

The Senate is currently conducting an inquiry into bank closures in Australia:

On 8 February 2023, the following matter was referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 December 2023.

The current extent of bank closures in regional Australia, with reference to:

1. the branch closure process, including the reasons given for closures;

2. the economic and welfare impacts of bank closures on customers and regional communities;

3. the effect of bank closures or the removal of face-to-face cash services on access to cash;

4. the effectiveness of government banking statistics capturing and reporting regional service levels, including the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s authorised deposit-taking institutions points of presence data;

5. consideration of solutions; and any other related matters.

Go to the Bank closures in regional Australia page at the Australian Parliament House website and consider making a submission.

The date for submissions has been extended to April 28, 2023.

Click here to see the submissions loaded so far. Many are from individuals.

This is an excellent opportunity to have your voice heard. Making a submission takes a few minutes.

Given the news over the last week of plans by the big 4 banks on cash handling, the more local retailers are heard on the branch closure challenges the better.