Australia's Big 4 banks face toughest dominance test

Sydney

AUSTRALIA'S four leading banks face the biggest test to their dominance since the 2008 global financial crisis as politicians calling for a public inquiry into how they operate look set to emerge from national elections in July with decisive influence.

The calls for a special parliamentary investigation, known as a Royal Commission, follow a series of poor conduct charges levelled at big banks, from giving consumers bad financial advice to claims of rate-rigging by three of the top four lenders.