Emotional stories of farmers being kicked off the land that has been in their family for generations are expected to be aired at the banking royal commission.
Senior Counsel Rowena Orr told the hearing this morning that five case studies would be presented - one each for banks CBA, NAB, ANZ, Bendigo Bank and Rabobank.
The inquiry will also examine institutions' handling of insurance claims after natural disasters.
Special Counsel Assisting Rowena Orr QC has told the inquiry that five case studies about farm lending practices will be heard this week. Source: Supplied
Nationals Senator John Williams said on Sunday that he does not want the inquiry to lead to such strict regulations being placed on the banks that they don't lend to farmers.
"That would be an absolute disaster," he said.
Senator Williams, who was a strong advocate for the royal commission and was involved in last year's Senate inquiry into rural lending, said he had heard some very good and also very bad stories about banks' treatment of farmers.
"I'm very confident the sentiment of sympathy is growing in the banks when it comes to handling the family farmer," he said.
'Emotional time'
Still, Senator Williams and National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson expect the case studies at a royal commission hearing in Brisbane this week will involve sad stories.
"I think we're going to hear some pretty torrid personal stories of people and their dealings with some of the banks," Ms Simson said.
"It's obviously going to be an emotional time for people but it's good for them to have their day in front of the commission."
Senator Williams and Ms Simson stress a farm is different to other small businesses, given it is also the farmer and their family's home.
"To withdraw funding form somebody can be catastrophic on a number of levels and can really place them in a difficult position," Ms Simson said.
She hoped the royal commission will look at contract terms, including better transparency and having longer terms and notice periods.
"We do need to make sure that when these contracts are negotiated that the conditions in there cater for changes in seasonal conditions and recognise that the families are involved."
More reform
Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh acknowledged the industry faced further reforms generally but said any changes must be thoughtful and carefully considered.
"Clearly, more reform is necessary but it's critical that the pendulum doesn't swing so far that it reduces lending and makes home ownership or running a business such as a farm more difficult," Ms Bligh said in a statement to AAP.
"The banking industry is acutely aware of the difficult circumstances facing some farmers across Australia, from droughts to natural disasters and lower domestic farm-gate prices.
"Banks work closely with farmers and their families through tough periods through deferring loan payments, extending interest-free periods to loans, waiving fees and assisting with debt consolidation to make repayments more manageable."
The NFF, ABA and small business and family enterprise ombudsman all back a nationally consistent and mandatory farm debt mediation scheme, which Senator Williams hoped would be in place before the end of the year.
Some states have schemes but they vary and the aim is to have a national program that requires banks to offer independent mediation to help resolve issues between farmers and banks quickly and fairly.
