Gadens Regulatory Recap – 4 September 2024

This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, ACCC, OAIC, Treasury, and the Federal Parliament including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators.  ASIC   ASIC continues extensive action against greenwashing  ASIC has made 47 regulatory interventions in relation to greenwashing misconduct, including commencing two Federal Court proceedings and issuing over […]

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Gadens Regulatory Recap – 21 August 2024

This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, OAIC, ACCC, and Treasury including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC  Financial advice update: The Financial Advice Update, published by ASIC on 9 August 2024, highlights key regulatory developments affecting Australian financial services (AFS) licensees and financial advisers. The update […]

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ASIC continues focus on financial hardship processes

Lenders should prepare for both an increase in financial hardship applications and heightened scrutiny from the regulator on how these hardship applications are managed. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has found that lenders are not complying with their obligations in the cases of customers who are facing financial difficulty. As the cost of […]

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Court orders Mercer Superannuation to pay an $11.3m penalty

Last year, ASIC commenced proceedings seeking declarations, pecuniary penalties and adverse publicity orders against Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited (Mercer) alleging that Mercer had made false or misleading representations and engaged in conduct that was liable to mislead the public in relation to financial services in contravention of sections 12DB(1)(a) and 12DF(1) of the Australian Securities […]

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Gadens Regulatory Recap – 8 August 2024

This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, OAIC, ACCC, and Treasury including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC ASIC’s first greenwashing case results in landmark $11.3 million penalty for Mercer The Federal Court has ordered Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited (Mercer) to pay $11.3 million in penalties in […]

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Gadens Regulatory Recap – 29 July 2024

This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, OAIC, ACCC, and Treasury including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators.  ASIC  ASIC and OAIC share Memorandum of Understanding on information sharing to accelerate data and privacy breach responses: ASIC and the OAIC have agreed to and entered a Memorandum of […]

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Gadens Regulatory Recap – 11 July 2024

This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, AFCA, ACCC, Treasury, and legislative updates, including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC AFS licensees required to notify ASIC about ‘experienced provider pathway’ declaration From 1 July 2024, AFS licensees must notify ASIC within 30 business days if they receive […]

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ASIC presses for penalties and crypto regulatory clarity with Block Earner appeal

The decision by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to appeal the latest Block Earner decision should give crypto asset providers some cause for concern. The regulator has signalled that, despite some recent court losses, it is prepared to continue its focus on the emerging industry in its pursuit of regulatory clarity. In February […]

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ASIC issues infringement notices to Fertoz Limited for alleged greenwashing

On 25 June 2024, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) confirmed that, on 21 June 2024, Fertoz Limited (Fertoz) had paid $37,560 in compliance with two infringement notices issued by ASIC in relation to alleged false or misleading statements that Fertoz had made in respect of its Reforestation Project in the Philippines. In issuing […]

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Gadens Regulatory Recap – 26 June 2024

This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, AFCA, AUSTRAC, OAIC, ACCC, Treasury, the Council of Financial Regulators, and legislative updates, including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators.  ASIC   ASIC grants class no-action position to second party opinion providers: On 14 June 2024, ASIC issued a class no-action position […]

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Doing business in Australia

The Gadens Doing business in Australia guide provides foreign investors with an overview of the Australian business, economic and regulatory environment, as well as practical advice on how to go about setting up and doing business in Australia. Australia is an ideal investment location for foreign companies looking to grow internationally, benefitting from well-developed infrastructure, […]

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Uncovering greenwashing: ASIC’s latest pursuit of accountability – Judgment against Active Super

Last week, the Federal Court found that the superannuation fund Active Super had made misleading representations concerning its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in its investment decision-making. On 10 August 2023, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commenced proceedings against the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS), as trustee of Active Super, […]

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