ASX welcomes the development as a prerequisite to the quoting of Australian Government bonds on a securities exchange in Australia.

ASX has been working closely with the Australian Office of Financial Management and other stakeholders towards providing such a facility. Trading is expected to commence in the first half of 2013, subject to regulatory clearance.

Investors will access the market in the same way as they do for shares and other ASX-quoted securities, via their ASX participant, online broker or financial planner. All benchmark bonds issued by the Australian Government, including Treasury Bonds and Treasury Indexed Bonds, will be available for trading.

Enabling retail access to exchange-traded government bonds will:

diversify and reduce volatility in Australia's savings pool by allowing retail investors to broaden their investments beyond equities and into a fixed income asset class
improve Australia's economic competitiveness by generating the critical investor and asset class base on which a more vibrant corporate bond market can be built
reduce Australia's reliance on offshore funding and exposure to movements in foreign exchange rates by mobilising greater domestic savings for investment in local infrastructure and corporate expansion.