Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the local community of Panania, I would like to express my concern and disappointment at the recent announcement that the Commonwealth Bank at Panania will close on 27 June.

I would like to thank local residents Allen Reay and Paul Burgess for organising a community protest at Panania Diggers against this closure yesterday. I understand that the Commonwealth Bank has obligations to its shareholders but it also has obligations to its customers, especially its elderly customers, many of whom have been loyal to that bank and that branch for over half a century.

I am sure the Commonwealth Bank can find some bean counter in one of their head offices in Sydney who could make an economic argument about why this branch should close. Have they actually costed the loss of community goodwill? Have they put a cost on the many loyal customers of the Commonwealth Bank that will close their accounts? And have they put a cost on the adverse effect that this will have on many small businesses in Panania that will be affected when the last bank in Panania closes?

I am sure the Commonwealth Bank puts those costs on and, if they reconsider this issue, they could keep that branch open. If it is an issue with their landlord, get back to the negotiating table, do a deal and keep the Panania branch of the Commonwealth Bank open.