6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

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

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

ABN 48 123 123 124
(Registrant’s Name)

Level 2
48 Martin Place
SYDNEY NSW 1155
AUSTRALIA

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 þ       Form 40-F o

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) o

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

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) o

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organised (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes o       No þ

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-99.1: APPOINTMENT AUDITOR

The information contained in the Exhibit to this Form 6-K shall be incorporated by reference into the prospectus relating to the Registrant’s debt securities contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-11964 and 333-11928), as such prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Documents Furnished by the Registrant

Exhibit No.	Description
1.	Commonwealth Bank of Australia to Appointment Auditor — formal tender process to commence

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 authorised.

COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA
By:
	Name: John Damien Hatton
	Title: Company Secretary
	Date: 26 October 2006

INDEX TO EXHIBIT

Exhibit No.	Description
1.	Commonwealth Bank of Australia to Appointment Auditor — formal tender process to commence

EX-99.1

Exhibit 1

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

ABN 48 123 123 124

The information contained in the Exhibit to this Form 6-K shall be incorporated by reference into the prospectus relating to the Registrant’s debt securities contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-11964 and 333-11928), as such prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time

Media Release Media Release

Marketing and Communications
GPO Box 2719
Sydney NSW 1155
www.commbank.com.au

COMMONWEALTH BANK TO APPOINT NEW AUDITOR
Formal tender process to commence

Sydney, 19 October 2006. The Commonwealth Bank is to embark on a formal tender process to appoint a new auditor with the appointment being effective from the beginning of the 2008 fiscal year. The Bank’s current auditor, Ernst &Young, who have been involved in the Bank’s audit for more than ten years, will remain responsible for the completion of the audit for the current fiscal year.

The decision to put the Bank’s audit out to formal tender follows a market review by Management and the Board which commenced at the beginning of August 2006. That review concluded that it was the appropriate time for a change and for the Bank to engage new auditors. Two firms, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers have been invited to participate in the next phase of the process.

Commenting on the decision to go to tender Commonwealth Bank CEO Ralph Norris said: “The Bank has had a long and productive relationship with Ernst & Young and the decision to appoint a new auditor was a difficult one. However, the Board and management were of the view that it would be beneficial to make a change at the end of the current year. I would like to thank Ernst & Young for their contribution to the Bank and we look forward to working with Ernst & Young as opportunities for non-audit services arise”.

ENDS

Media contact:
Bryan Fitzgerald
General Manager, Media

Ph: (02) 9378 2663
Mobile: 0414 789 649

Investor Relations contact:
Warwick Bryan
Executive General Manager, Investor Relations

Ph: (02) 9378 5979
Mobile: 0406 316 725