Review of Payments System Regulation
The Reserve Bank of Australia has launched a Review of Payments System Regulation, releasing an Issues Paper that seeks stakeholder input on emerging payment‑policy challenges. The review follows amendments to the 1998 Payments Systems Act, extending regulatory coverage to new payment methods and participants. It invites written submissions by 7 August 2026, after which the RBA will set regulatory priorities by year‑end and begin deeper consultation in mid‑2027. The consultation covers merchant choice, account‑to‑account competition, mobile wallets, BNPL services, and cryptographic fraud prevention.
Assessment of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS)
The Reserve Bank of Australia released its 2026 assessment of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS) against the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures (PFMI). RITS was found to fully comply with all PFMI elements as of 31 March 2026, confirming...
Statement by the Monetary Policy Board: Monetary Policy Decision
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Monetary Policy Board left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% on 16 June 2026. Inflation remains above target, driven by lingering oil‑price shocks and capacity pressures that surfaced in late 2025. Financial conditions have tightened after three rate...
RBA and DFCRC Release Findings From Project Acacia
The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre released the Project Acacia report, outlining how digital money, settlement infrastructure and tokenised assets can modernise Australia’s wholesale markets. The joint effort tested 20 use cases across asset...
Statement by the Monetary Policy Board: Monetary Policy Decision
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Monetary Policy Board raised the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.35 percent, marking the fourth increase this year. The decision was driven by a resurgence of inflation, fueled by higher fuel and commodity prices...
Roundtable Opens Public Consultation on Draft Vision for Account-to-Account Payments in Australia
The Account‑to‑Account Payments Roundtable, made up of AusPayNet, Australian Payments Plus, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Commonwealth Treasury, released a draft vision for Australia’s A2A payments system and opened a public consultation that runs until 22 May. The vision...
Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging – Conclusions Paper
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Payments System Board released a Conclusions Paper outlining sweeping reforms to the nation’s card‑payment system. It will remove mandatory surcharging on debit, prepaid and credit cards, lower interchange fee caps and boost fee‑transparency across eftpos,...
Release of Guidance for the Australian Clearing and Settlement Facility Resolution Regime
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has released its Guidance on the Australian Clearing and Settlement (CS) Facility Resolution Regime, accompanied by a Response to Consultation that outlines stakeholder feedback. The Guidance clarifies how the RBA may exercise its crisis‑resolution...
Appointment to the Monetary Policy Board
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced that Professor Bruce Preston has been appointed to the Monetary Policy Board, effective immediately. Preston brings a distinguished academic record and extensive experience in public‑policy economics. Governor Michele Bullock also thanked outgoing board member...