Regulatory Updates

Whether you describe it as the ‘AI revolution’,[1] ‘AI bubble’,[2] or an ‘industry reshape’,[3] 2025 has seen artificial intelligence affect …

CS 36 Proposed remake of relief for fundraising and mergers and acquisitions. ASIC is seeking feedback on its proposal …

Stop order in CFDs sector

ASIC has made an interim stop order against Stratos Trading Pty Limited (trading as FXCM) …

AUSTRAC has updated its regulatory expectations ahead of the reforms to the AML/CTF regime commencing for existing reporting entities on …

The 2025 compliance reporting period opens on 1 January 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEDT on 31 March 2026. All …

AUSTRAC and APRA have both announced mandatory actions to address deficiencies in Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s (referred to as Bendigo …

AUSTRAC has refused to renew the registration of Yellow Sand Trading Pty Ltd, which operates as Raiyyan Exchange, an independent …

AUSTRAC has started civil penalty proceedings against two businesses for failing to lodge their annual compliance reports for 2023. Both …

ASIC has updated Regulatory Guide 183 Codes of conduct for the financial services and credit sectors.

The update:

• reflects …

ASIC launched a formal inquiry in June 2025 into the ASX Group, due to concerns about the ASX Group’s ability …

ASIC has published Report 827 Insights from the ASIC Whistleblower Questionnaire: July 2024 to June 2025. The report outlines trends, …

ASIC has banned Ms Thi Hoa Trieu from engaging in credit activities, controlling another person who engages in credit activities, …

ASIC commenced proceedings in March 2023 against Green County Pty Ltd, which is a business lender, and its loan introducer, …

Commissioner Alan Kirkland gave a speech earlier in the month, which included a discussion about ASIC’s concerns with the private …

In May 2025, ASIC commenced proceedings against Macquarie Securities (Australia) Limited for allegedly engaging in misleading conduct, by misreporting millions …

The Federal Court has found that the blockchain mining companies NGS Group Limited, NGS Crypto Pty Ltd and NGS Digital …

ASIC has taken administrative action against a number of licensees this month. It has:

• temporarily suspended the AFSL of Focused …

ASIC has updated RG 168 Product Disclosure Statements: Disclosure and other obligations.

ASIC consulted with industry as part of …

In a recent speech at the Professional Planner Researcher Forum, ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland stressed that Australian investors depend on …

ASIC has updated its IDR data reporting handbook, ahead of the next submission window.

The updated handbook:

• reflects the changes …

To date, ASIC has provided operators of employee redundancy funds and employee entitlement schemes (often referred to as long service …

ASIC has updated Regulatory Guide 181, which sets out ASIC’s guidance on complying with the general licence obligation in …

ASIC and APRA have jointly published Report 826, which provides an update on registerable superannuation entity licensees’ (“trustees”) compliance …

Diversa sued

ASIC has commenced civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court against the trustee of the First Guardian fund, …

See Bills introduced to Parliament, or exposure draft legislation released for consultation.

It wasn’t long ago that someone would receive an email in their inbox saying they had received a large inheritance …

Regulation of Payment Service Providers – Tranche 1a draft legislation. Treasury is inviting feedback on the new regulatory framework …

Director permanently banned

ASIC has permanently banned former director of Skyecap Pty Ltd and Pineapple Funding Pty Ltd (“the companies”), …

AUSTRAC has issued a strong warning to online payment platforms after uncovering serious compliance failures that allowed transactions linked to …

AUSTRAC has taken enforcement action against Cryptolink, a crypto ATM operator, for failing to meet its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism …

The Financial Action Task Force has published its next update on jurisdictions which may pose a risk to the international …

AFCA held its latest member forums on 5 and 6 November 2025.

In his opening address, Chief Ombudsman and CEO …

Following consultation, AFCA has published an updated Approach to family violence which replaces AFCA’s existing Approach to joint accounts …

ASIC has released Report 825, which is intended to update current and prospective AFS and credit licensees on the current …

The long awaited Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, which seeks to regulate digital asset providers, has now …

The OAIC has published its 2024-25 Annual report.

In releasing the Report, Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd noted the importance of …

ASIC Commissioner Kate O’Rourke gave a speech at the Women in Payments Gala Evening this month about the “fast-moving world” …

ASIC has published its 2026 enforcement priorities. Some of the priorities are new issues and risks identified by ASIC, …

ASIC has launched its Reportable Situations dashboard.

The dashboard can be accessed by the public, and contains information about …

ASIC continues to focus on the small credit industry and small amount credit contracts (“SACC”) and has made an interim …

The High Court has denied the application for special leave to appeal made by Mark Swanepoel and Brenton Harrison, the …

Prime Super, as the Trustee of the Prime Super Superannuation Fund, allegedly made the misleading statement that manufacturers of …

ASIC has banned former director of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd, Brendan Rodwell, from performing any function involved in carrying …

ASIC has published Report 824 Review of SMSF establishment advice, which details ASIC’s findings from its recent review of …

ASIC has issued a number of different proceedings related to the Shield and First Guardian fallout. For a quick refresher, …

In November 2024, ASIC filed civil penalty proceedings against United Super Pty Ltd, the trustee of Cbus, alleging that United …

As a result of ASIC referring the matter to the Office of Public Prosecutions, the directors of AFSL holder Sheffield …

ASIC has taken administrative action against a number of licensees this month. It has:

• cancelled the AFSL of Ricard Securities …

See Bills introduced to Parliament, or exposure draft legislation released for consultation.

No doubt you will be aware of the alarming number of high-profile Federal Court proceedings commenced this year that deal …