Labor seeks February 1 release of banking royal commission report

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is under pressure to release the final report of the banking royal commission on February 1 – the day it is handed to the federal government.

Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen is demanding the report be released publicly on the same day it’s handed to the government, ahead of Parliament resuming in mid-February.

The New Daily website reported Labor will warn any failure to release the royal commission’s final report immediately would “unnecessarily politicise the handling of the report and give rise to potential material market risks around leaks of all or part of the report”.

“It is in the national interest for the Australian people and victims of banking scandals to be able to access the Hayne Banking Royal Commission’s final report and form their own views, at the earliest opportunity, and that means on Friday, February 1,” Mr Bowen said.

“I have written to the Treasurer requesting they release the final report and related documents of the banking royal commission as soon as practicable after it is received by the government.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg established a precedent of releasing the Royal Commission’s interim report on the day it was received.

The Treasurer will deliver a major economic speech at the Sydney Institute on tonight, which is expected to touch on the government’s approach to the royal commission.

The government voted 26 times against establishing the royal commission.