Senate debates Questions on Notice

Banking (Question No. 75)


David Johnston

David Johnston WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, upon notice, on 29 September 2010:

Have there been any situations where the banks' 'all Monies clause' has been used to try to attach a debt to people who were not even aware that they were responsible for the guarantee of a third party.

Nick Sherry

Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism

The Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

In 2009, the Government enacted the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 including the National Credit Code, which introduced for the first time, a nationally consistent legislative regime for the regulation of consumer credit. Section 59 of the National Credit Code makes any guarantee unenforceable unless the credit provider has given the guarantor a copy of the contract document and subsequently obtained the guarantor's written acceptance. Therefore under the Commonwealth's legislation, banks can not use an 'all monies clause' to attach a debt to people who are not aware that they are responsible for the guarantee of a third party.