Payments System Board Annual Report – 2011 Functions and Objectives of the Payments System Board

The responsibilities of the Payments System Board are set out in the Reserve Bank Act 1959. In particular, the Act requires the Board to determine the Reserve Bank's payments system policy so as to best contribute to:

• controlling risk in the financial system;
• promoting the efficiency of the payments system; and
• promoting competition in the market for payment services, consistent with the overall stability of the financial system.

In order to give effect to these responsibilities, the Reserve Bank has powers that are set out in two Acts: the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998 and the Payment Systems and Netting Act 1998.

Under the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act, the Reserve Bank has the power to designate payment systems and to set standards and access regimes in designated systems. The Act also sets out the matters that the Reserve Bank must take into account when using these powers. The Payment Systems and Netting Act provides the Reserve Bank with the power to give legal certainty to certain settlement arrangements so as to ensure that risks of systemic disruptions from payment systems are minimised.

In addition, the Reserve Bank Act gives the Board responsibility for ensuring that clearing and settlement facilities contribute to the stability of the financial system. The relevant powers are set out in the Corporations Act 2001, which gives the Reserve Bank the power to determine financial stability standards for licensed securities clearing and settlement facilities.

This Report discusses the activities of the Board during 2010/11.