Changes urged for distressed farming loans

Banks have been called on to change the way the handle distressed agricultural loans by the banking royal commissioner.

Farmers attending the banks royal commission in Brisbane.

The banking royal commission has outlined how it thinks distressed farming loans should be treated. (AAP)

The banks are under pressure to stop forcing farmers off their land, with the banking royal commission recommending that be a last resort of action on loan defaults.

Royal Commissioner Kenneth Hayne's report, handed down on Monday, has recommended that banks should only be able to call in administrators or receivers on defaulting farmers when all other avenues are exhausted.

The inquiry heard emotional stories of farmers' problems with banks, including from some drought-stricken graziers who had been hit with hefty penalty interest for defaulting on their loans.

Mr Hayne has further recommended that only experienced agricultural bankers deal with those loans and mediation as soon as a loan is classified as distressed.

He also wants banks to stop charging default interest when there is no realistic prospect of recovering the amount charged.

In its response, the Morrison government says it supports the banks act on the recommendations aimed at how they handled distressed agricultural loans, but at this stage is taking no direct action.

However, it is setting up a national scheme to help farmers seek mediation to work out a way for them to repay their loans where possible.

"The government further supports mediation occurring soon after the loan becomes distressed and not as a last measure prior to the lender taking enforcement action," the government's response said.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world