Regulatory Updates

Since 1992, when class actions were enshrined in Australia’s legal framework, the link between them and regulatory interventions has been …

Improving access to affordable and quality financial advice. Treasury is inviting feedback on Tranche 2 of the DBFO reforms. …

ASIC Commissioner delivers speech on climate reporting framework

ASIC Commissioner Kate O’Rourke delivered a speech at the Responsible Investment Association …

AUSTRAC is alerting the public to fraudulent emails posing as AUSTRAC officials.

These scams falsely claim suspicious activity on accounts …

AUSTRAC’s Fintel Alliance is expanding after its intelligence partnership led to major law enforcement outcomes.

The Alliance, a global public-private …

AUSTRAC has appointed an external auditor to review Mercedes Benz Financial Services Australia, following concerns about the financier’s compliance with …

AUSTRAC released a case study highlighting its role in a major international financial crime investigation that led to the restraint …

AUSTRAC has issued over $75,000 worth of infringement notices to digital currency exchange provider Cointree Pty Ltd for the alleged …

AUSTRAC is seeking further feedback on the second exposure draft of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules.

This follows …

AFCA has published the latest edition of its Systemic Issues Insights Report. This report shares data and findings from recent …

ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant delivered a keynote address at the latest Consumer Rights Forum on death benefits claim handling issues …

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has released its Notifiable Data Breaches Report for the July to December 2024 …

ASIC has cancelled the AFSL of Spectre Financial Group Australia Pty Ltd after it found that Spectre had failed to …

The Federal Court has ordered HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Limited to pay a pecuniary penalty of $750,000 and make …

ASIC has sought special leave from the High Court to appeal the Full Federal Court’s decision that found that the …

The Government has announced its new ministry following the federal election in May 2025.

The Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP …

ASIC has commenced civil penalty proceedings against Resimac Limited, alleging thousands of their home loan customers were impacted by the …

ASIC has published a new regulatory guide to help buy now pay later providers understand their obligations ahead of new …

ASIC released CS 18 Proposed remake of financial-advice related legislative instruments, seeking feedback on ASIC’s proposal to remake three legislative …

ASIC has imposed new licence conditions on Kalkine Pty Ltd. The administrative action followed ASIC’s concerns that Kalkine's customer service …

The Financial Services and Credit Panel issued a written reprimand on 12 May 2025 to a relevant provider who recommended …

ASIC has filed proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court alleging that Macquarie Securities (Australia) Limited engaged in misleading conduct by …

ASIC has imposed additional conditions on Macquarie Bank Limited’s AFS licence after multiple and significant compliance failures.

The compliance failures …

You’re busy. You have a business to run and services to deliver. On top of that, your compliance consultant is …

Updated FATF Guidance on AML/CFT [sic] Measures and Financial Inclusion. The proposed guidance updates support recent changes to FATF …

ASIC suspends AFS licence following change of ownership

ASIC has suspended the AFS licence held by Beacon Wealth Pty Ltd …

AUSTRAC is looking to make further enhancements to AUSTRAC Online, with the goal of further strengthening the security of the …

AUSTRAC is encouraging inactive digital currency exchange businesses to voluntarily withdraw their registrations or risk having them cancelled.

AUSTRAC is …

AUSTRAC recently held its first industry forums in October 2024 to strengthen collaboration with reporting entities and tranche 2 entities. …

AUSTRAC’s cryptocurrency taskforce has uncovered compliance gaps in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing checks among crypto ATM providers.

Established in …

AUSTRAC has introduced a new e-learning module, "Quality Reporting: Threshold Transaction Reports” to enhance compliance with anti-money laundering and …

Most financial advice licensees should already be enrolled with AUSTRAC on the basis that they provide what are known as …

AUSTRAC has developed a new webpage dedicated to the upcoming reforms to the AML/CTF reforms which are to come in …

AUSTRAC is currently reviewing industry feedback from its recent public consultation on the first draft exposure of the AML/CTF Rules, …

Effective from 31 March 2025, recent changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 have redefined the …

Following proceedings brought by ASIC, the Federal Court found that business lender Green County Pty Ltd and business loan …

ASIC has released RG 280 Sustainability reporting, for entities required to prepare a sustainability report under Chapter 2M of …

ASIC has announced that that it has updated the Information Sheets, Regulatory Guides and Instruments listed below. According to ASIC, …

At the 11th Annual Australian Government Data Governance Summit on the 2 April 2025, ASIC Commissioner Kate O’Rourke delivered several …

AFCA is currently in the process of renewing memberships for the 2025-26 financial year.  Invoices will be issued by AFCA …

Following ASIC’s actions against Lanterne, HSBC and FIIG Securities, it is clear that ASIC is firmly enforcing its regulatory priority …

ASIC has issued two infringement notices totalling $37,560 to debt management company Chapter Two Holdings Pty Ltd for alleged misleading …

The Full Federal Court has allowed an appeal by digital asset service provider Block Earner, overturning an earlier decision of …

ASIC has released Report 806 Taking ownership of death benefits: How trustees can deliver outcomes Australians deserve, providing its …

Following the commencement of the ASIC Derivative Transaction Rules (Reporting) 2024 on 21 October 2024, ASIC has issued a new …

ASIC has issued infringement notices to three AFS licensees whose financial advisers provided personal advice to retail clients while unregistered. …

ASIC has issued proceedings in the Federal Court against Hollard Insurance over an insurance claim that took nearly three and …

Two recent decisions of the Financial Services and Credit Panel provide lessons for advice licensees and advisers.

The first decision …

A recent Federal Court decision highlights the significant regulatory risks associated with routinely advising clients to set up SMSFs, particularly …

When applying for an AFSL, applicants must be prepared to meet the fit and proper requirement – a test that …