IMF Staff Country Reports

Australia: Financial System Stability Assessment

Publication Date:

February 21, 2019

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

This paper presents Financial System Stability Assessment of Australian financial systems. The report highlights that financial supervision and systemic risk oversight have been enhanced. And the authorities have taken successful policy action to calm rapid growth in riskier segments of the mortgage market. Restrictions on the growth of investor loans and the share of interest-only mortgages, as well as the introduction of stronger lending standards, appear to have led to a slowdown in mortgage credit growth, and the housing market is now cooling. Financial supervision shows generally high conformity to international best practices, although there are opportunities to close identified gaps and strengthen arrangements. Steps are recommended to bolster the independence and resourcing of the regulatory agencies, by removing constraints on their policy making powers and providing additional budgetary autonomy and flexibility. The paper explains that greater formalization and transparency of the work of the Council of Financial Regulators would further buttress the financial stability framework.

Series:

Country Report No. 2019/054

Subject:

Bank credit Banking Credit Financial regulation and supervision Financial sector policy and analysis Financial sector stability Housing prices Money Mortgages Prices Systemic risk