No Cost to Taxpayers From Bond Scandal: ANZ Head

Taxpayers have not been slugged following misconduct by ANZ employees, the bank’s head said.
ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott has told a parliamentary inquiry into the big four banks there would be consequences across the company for misconduct, including possible pay cuts.
The bank was investigated by the corporate regulator for incorrectly submitting monthly secondary bond turnover data to the federal government in 2023.
Elliott said there had not been any additional cost for taxpayers despite the bond trading scandal.
“There has been speculation that potential misconduct by ANZ in connection with this issuance may have cost taxpayers,” he told the committee on Aug. 30.
“From what I have seen, there is no evidence of this.
“I’ve not seen any evidence, any of the data that supports any misconduct, market manipulation or otherwise, from ANZ.”
Elliott said three employees had already left the company and others would suffer consequences from the scandal.
“We have suffered significant reputational damage, and as a result of that, you would expect for us to go back and interrogate how this happened,” he said.
“We’re right in the middle of doing our annual performance assessments of individuals … there’s no doubt that reputational damage will impact the assessment of some if not many.”
The hearings have been held as high interest rates and stubborn inflation impact household budgets.
Elliott said while many were managing despite the economic conditions, trouble loomed.
“People are finding it harder to pay for housing and everyday expenses, and businesses are struggling with higher costs,” he said.
“We expect that more people in business will sadly get into difficulty in coming months.”
Earlier on Aug. 30, National Australia Bank (NAB) chief executive Andrew Irvine told the committee cost-of-living pressures continued to affect people, with economic growth weaker than in previous years.
However, he expected interest rates to start decreasing in the coming months.
“There are two Australias and a two-speed economy operating at present,” he said.
“Customers in certain sectors and certain geographies are doing well and are ambitious to grow.
“People are having to make tough decisions about where they spend their money.
“They are getting by, but it is tough.”
The banking executive noted people in mining and resource sectors and those living in jurisdictions such as Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory were doing well under current conditions.
Those in southeast states and the retail and construction sectors were under more pressure, he said.
Irvine urged the federal government to keep inflation under control, with many mortgage holders struggling with the level of interest rates.
“We must all remember that one in three Australians have a home loan,” he said.
“On the other hand, inflation hurts everyone and renters have been particularly hard hit by higher rents and higher living costs.”
He also hit out at customers being forced to pay “outdated and outrageous” surcharges for purchases on debit or credit cards.
“It’s possible that surcharging was warranted over 20 years ago, but I think it behooves us to ask whether it still serves its purpose,” he said.
“It just adds to confusion—it means I don’t know what the price of a good is that I’m buying and I don’t like it.”