The Federal Court orders Westpac to pay a $26 million penalty after finding the bank failed to respond appropriately to customers experiencing financial hardship. Multiple outlets report the court describes Westpac’s conduct as “grossly negligent,” pointing to shortcomings in how the bank handled customers needing help.
Reports state the penalty is tied to failures over an extended period, with one account characterising the problem as spanning about six years. The coverage also describes “systemic failures” that meant some customers were not given timely assistance and “slip through the cracks,” rather than receiving the support expected from a bank with relevant obligations.
The reporting is consistent across sources on the core facts: the action is brought in the Federal Court, the penalty amount is $26 million, and the court’s characterisation of the bank’s conduct is “grossly negligent” linked to inadequate responses to hardship customers. The outlets do not provide details of specific individuals or further regulatory findings beyond the court’s penalty and characterisation of Westpac’s conduct.
