Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Siewert, perhaps I can assist you in this way. I'm advised that the funder-of-last-resort policy must necessarily have some limitations; otherwise, it may act as a disincentive for financially viable institutions to opt in to the scheme. Importantly, the scheme's legislation facilitates non-government institutions, where they operate as an umbrella organisation, taking responsibility for defunct institutions that fall under that umbrella. In many cases it is more appropriate for these institutions to take responsibility for their defunct institutions than it would be for governments to step in as a funder of last resort. The policy is also intended to prevent non-government institutions from potentially exaggerating the state of their finances in order to have government step in. The policy provides governments with some degree of certainty as to the funder-of-last-resort liability.