UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

November 25, 2019

Commission File Number 1-10167

WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

275 KENT STREET, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES 2000, AUSTRALIA

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F              x                    Form 40-F         __________

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  __________

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ___________

Incorporation by Reference

The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K, excluding the information set forth in Exhibits 1 and 2, shall be incorporated by reference in the prospectuses relating to the Registrant’s securities contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-228295, 333-228294 and 333-220373), as such prospectuses may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Westpac released on Sunday 24 November 2019 an update on Westpac’s response to issues raised by AUSTRAC in its statement of claim. This includes Westpac’s Response Plan (Plan).

In its Plan, Westpac has made a number of commitments including to improve its financial crime program, support industry initiatives to enhance financial crime monitoring and provide additional support and resources to organisations that are working to eradicate child exploitation.

Westpac estimates these commitments will increase expenses by up to $80 million (pre tax) in FY2020 when the majority will be incurred or provided for. These expenses will be included in cash earnings and treated as provisions for estimated refunds, payments, associated costs and litigation.

Index to Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
1	Media Release – Westpac announces response plan
2	ASX Announcement – Westpac response plan

Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements

The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements are statements about matters that are not historical facts.  Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this Report and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to our business and operations, market conditions, results of operations and financial condition.

We use words such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘expect’, ‘indicative’, ‘intend’, ‘seek’, ‘would’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘continue’, ‘plan’, ‘aim’, ‘probability’, ‘risk’, ‘forecast’, ‘likely’, ‘estimate’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’ or other similar words to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to change, certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are, in many instances, beyond our control and have been made based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning

future developments and their potential effect upon us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with our expectations or that the effect of future developments on us will be those anticipated.  Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the expectations described in this Report.  Factors that may impact on the forward-looking statements made include, but are not limited to, those described in the section entitled ‘Risk factors’ in Westpac’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to us, investors and others should carefully consider such factors and other uncertainties and events.  We are under no obligation, and do not intend, to update any forward-looking statements contained in this Report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this Report.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
	(Registrant)
Date:  November 25, 2019	By:	/s/ Yvette Adiguzel
		Yvette Adiguzel
		Tier One Attorney