AusPayNet revises outlook for the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS) Framework

MEDIA RELEASE

16 December 2025

AusPayNet revises outlook for the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS) Framework

Based on a majority view of BECS Members, until further progress has been made and a clear roadmap has been developed for the future of account-to-account (A2A) payments in Australia, AusPayNet is removing the target end-date of June 2030 for decommissioning the BECS Framework.

John Brogden, Chair of AusPayNet, said, “It has been two years since the target end-date of June 2030 was set based on a majority view of our BECS Members. In that time, three key challenges have emerged: the need to have a shared vision for the future of account-to-account payments in Australia; the availability, as well as the customer adoption of alternative capabilities to BECS; and a more complex geopolitical and operational risk environment for payments in Australia and globally.”

“Considering these challenges, the majority of BECS Members no longer believe the industry can achieve the target end-date of June 2030 for the decommissioning of BECS, which has led to this adjustment in our outlook for the future of BECS.”

“We will continue to assess and update the outlook every six months. We remain committed to the stability and resilience of BECS for as long as it continues to operate,” Mr Brogden added.

It remains the intention of BECS Members to transition away from BECS in favour of modern alternatives like the NPP, which is the industry’s strategic account-to-account payments system and the focus for investment and innovation. BECS Members will continue to drive momentum by maximising the use of the NPP for the benefit of their customers.

AusPayNet and AP+ are working collaboratively through an A2A Payments Roundtable with the RBA and the Commonwealth Treasury under an ACCC authorisation to help shape a shared vision for the future of account-to-account payments in Australia and define a roadmap of high-level deliverables and milestones for achieving that vision, including clear prioritisation and sequencing, with both expected in 2026. Members of BECS, members of the NPP, operators of other alternative payment systems to BECS, and relevant end-user groups are being appropriately engaged through the process.

Andy White, AusPayNet’s CEO, said, “our recent A2A payments consultation with AP+ received 68 submissions, with valuable insights which will help shape a vision for A2A payments and a high confidence roadmap to deliver that vision.”

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the industry and key stakeholders through the A2A Payments Roundtable to translate these findings into a vision that effectively supports Australia’s digital economy,” Mr White added.

Revised outlook for the BECS Framework

In November 2023, after an extensive three-year consultation with the payments industry and key stakeholders, AusPayNet, based on a majority view of its BECS Members, announced June 2030 as the target end-date for the BECS Framework.

The aim of the target end-date was to enable greater focus and engagement on, and acceleration of, the transition to more modern alternatives that better meet the new and emerging needs of end-users and the Australian payments ecosystem.

In announcing the target end-date in 2023, AusPayNet emphasised that it was not a mandate and committed to continually testing its validity to ensure there is no risk to the security, stability and resilience of the payments system.

The target end-date was subject to the industry making progress in a number of areas, including but not limited to:

use case capabilities (particularly for bulk payments made by businesses and government)
the viability and resilience of modern alternatives
end-user readiness and adoption of modern alternatives
the cost of change and ongoing cost of modern alternatives
an industry level scope, timeline and roadmap for the transition.

In the two years since the setting of the target end-date, there has been significant industry and regulatory focus on the future of account-to-account payments in Australia. While progress has been made that supports the move to modern alternatives like the NPP, both the RBA’s March 2025 Risk Assessment into the proposed decommissioning of BECS and AusPayNet’s own ongoing consultation with BECS Members and users have highlighted key challenges that include:

The need for the industry and its stakeholders, including end-users, to have a shared vision for the future of account-to-account payments in Australia, with industry deliverables and milestones for achieving that vision;
The availability and customer adoption of alternative capabilities for direct debits and large bulk payment files; and
A more complex geopolitical and operational risk environment emerging since the target end-date was set, with corresponding implications for resilience and contingency.

Considering these challenges, the majority of BECS Members no longer believe the industry can achieve the target end-date of June 2030 for the decommissioning of BECS and see the need for a clear roadmap to address these challenges before a target end-date to decommission the BECS Framework is considered again.

AusPayNet has therefore decided to remove the target end-date of June 2030 until further progress has been made, and a clear roadmap has been developed, to overcome these challenges.

AusPayNet and AP+ are working collaboratively with the RBA and the Commonwealth Treasury under an ACCC authorisation to help shape a shared vision for the future of account-to-account payments in Australia and define a roadmap of high-level deliverables and milestones for achieving that vision, including clear prioritisation and sequencing, with both expected in 2026.

Members of BECS, members of the NPP, operators of other alternative payment systems to BECS, and relevant end-user groups are being appropriately engaged through the process.

AusPayNet will continue to assess and communicate the outlook for BECS to members and stakeholders every six months. AusPayNet remains committed to the stability and resilience of BECS for as long as it continues to operate.