The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its 2025–26 corporate plan, which details its strategy to enhance the stability of banks, insurers, and superannuation funds. The plan outlines APRA’s priorities for the next four years and specific initiatives for the next 12 to 18 months.
APRA’s strategy is focused on four key areas:
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Maintaining financial and operational stability.
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Addressing new and emerging risks.
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Striking the right regulatory balance.
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Improving its own effectiveness as an organization.
A major focus of the plan is to strengthen cyber resilience across all regulated industries, given the growing threats from artificial intelligence and geopolitical tensions. APRA also plans to check for compliance with its new operational risk management standard, CPS 230, and update its governance standards.
Additional initiatives include:
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Publishing the results of its first System Stress Test to assess vulnerabilities between the banking and superannuation sectors.
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Increasing scrutiny of superannuation fund expenses.
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Reviewing the governance and member outcomes of major platform providers.
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Releasing the results of its Climate Vulnerability Assessment for the general insurance sector.
The plan also emphasizes balancing financial safety with competition and efficiency. This includes considering a new tier for the banking framework, helping general insurers access more affordable reinsurance, and eliminating unnecessary regulations.
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