Australian Update - ASIC's Key Issues Outlook for 2025 - On 24 January 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released its key issues outlook for 2025 which provides insights for Australian...more
Australian - Update Mandatory Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Come Into Effect - The first phase of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth) (Bill) commenced on...more
Australian Update - Appointment of the Inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner - On 11 November 2023, the Attorney-General announced the appointment of Chris Evans as the inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner...more
When assessing how to comply with the new reporting obligations, reporting entities should recognise the differences in the enforcement approach that ASIC will take in relation to mandatory climate reporting compared with the...more
The Australian federal government recently released its response to the independent review of Australia's amended continuous disclosure regime (the "Independent Review")....more
Australian Update - Climate-Related Disclosures Legislation Passed - The Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth) passed Parliament on 9 September 2024 and received Royal...more
On 22 August 2024, the Senate passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (the Bill), which requires certain organisations to make mandatory climate-related financial...more
In this week’s edition, we discuss a drop in support for ESG shareholder proposals at one of the world’s largest asset managers; a decision by a U.S. federal court to strike down an anti-ESG investing rule in Missouri; and...more
The Development: On August 22, 2024, the Australian Senate passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 ("Bill")....more
Australian Update - Proposed Code of Practice to Reduce Modern Slavery Through Lending, Investment and Asset Management - The New South Wales (NSW) Anti-Slavery Commissioner (Commissioner) recently released its discussion...more
On 27 March 2024, the Australian Government published the first reading draft of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (New Bill), which superseded the previous exposure...more
Australian Update - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Enforcement Priorities for 2024-2025 - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its enforcement and compliance priorities for...more
Australia welcomes new business and foreign investment by providing a strong economy, a stable political environment and a skilled and talented workforce. Our comprehensive guide to Doing Business in Australia has been...more
Australian Update - Australian Securities and Investments Commission Continues Greenwashing Enforcement Efforts - On 28 February 2024, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reported that an outsourced...more
Australian Update - Draft Legislation – Climate-Related Financial Disclosures The Australian Government has released Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2024: Climate-related financial disclosure, which is draft legislation...more
Australian Update - ASIC to Focus on Net Zero Statements and Targets - On 21-22 November 2023, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) hosted the ASIC Annual Forum, outlining: The progress and outcomes ASIC...more
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has released its new Corporate Plan, outlining its plans for the next year, and strategic priorities for the next four....more
On 10 August 2021, the Australian Parliament passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill, which will permanently reform its continuous disclosure regime and related prohibitions on misleading conduct by...more
Following in the footsteps of its international counterparts, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority ("APRA") is ramping up its guidance on the management of climate-related risks. On 22 April 2021, APRA released...more
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission ("ASIC") has recently released updates to its existing regulatory guidance on effective disclosure, to clarify its position on the disclosure of climate change-related...more
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission ("ASIC") recently released the "ASIC regulation of corporate finance: January to June 2018" report that demonstrates ASIC's increased preparedness to take action on...more
The Situation: Currently, limited protections exist in Australia for private sector whistleblowers against victimization and detrimental treatment. The Development: The Australian government has released draft law that...more
On 4 August 2015, the Treasury of the Australian Government released a consultation paper, facilitating crowd-sourced equity funding and reducing compliance costs (Consultation Paper). This follows the previous discussion...more