After several months of delay due to COVID-19, the Bill implements a large number of the Hayne Royal Commission recommendations, and in particular picks up several of the recommendations that are aimed at reforming the insurance sector. ...

The government yesterday introduced into Parliament the Financial Sector Reform (Hayne Royal Commission Response) Bill 2020 to implement a large number of the Hayne Royal Commission recommendations. Many provisions have a start date of 1 January 2021, and some don't have a transition period. ...

ASIC's Corporate Plan sets out its strategic priorities and actions for the next four years, especially its approach to its supervisory, surveillance and enforcement functions, and how each of those may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO) regime is one of the biggest things for the financial services industry in 2020, affecting almost every part of the industry. ...

This insight exams ASIC's proposals on on the new mortgage broker best interests duty. A new duty has been created for mortgage brokers to act in the best interests of consumers where there is a conflict when providing credit assistance. ...

On Friday the Government released a large package of Exposure Draft Bills to implement the last of the Financial Services Royal Commission recommendations. There are some important and significant changes and Treasury is consulting widely (although not for very long) and seeking feedback. ...

ASIC has released its first report focusing on director and officer oversight of non-financial risk in seven large financial services companies (the First Report). While the report focuses on financial services companies, ASIC points out expressly that all companies, regardless of sector, should read and engage with the findings of this report. ...

Hot on the heels of its Implementation Roadmap, the Federal Government has released draft legislation introducing a best interests duty and banning conflicted remuneration for mortgage brokers. This affects not only mortgage brokers but the existing safe harbour for financial advisers. ...

Digital Platforms Inquiry Final Report released, Takeovers Panel considers board discretions and process deed disclosure requirements and other corporate law developments ...

The Treasurer, the Honourable Josh Frydenberg, released the Government's 'Implementation Roadmap' today to 'provide clarity and certainty' about the Government's ongoing work to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission ...