obÌåÓý

Regulatory tracker 2022

Items in this weekly tracker are listed in reverse chronological order.

Week beginning 19 December 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
22/12/2022 RG 1 AFS Licensing Kit: Part 1 � Applying for and varying an AFS licence (updated - issue date unchanged)

RG 2 AFS Licensing Kit: Part 2 � Preparing your AFS licence or variation application (updated - issue date unchanged)

RG 3 AFS Licensing Kit: Part 3 � Preparing your additional proofs (updated - issue date unchanged)

Partial updates to reflect the introduction of the obÌåÓý MOVEit portal. Financial services
20/12/2022

obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument

REP 755 Response to submissions on CP 361 Proposed changes to simplify the obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Reporting): Second consultation

obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Reporting) 2022 repeals and remakes the obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Reporting) 2013 in the same form, so as to continue the requirements for reporting over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives transactions beyond the 1 October 2023 sunsetting of the 2013 Rules.

obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Reporting) 2024 implements the proposals consulted on in CP 361 in one stage commencing 21 October 2024, and updates the requirements to harmonise to various international reporting standards, remove outdated transitional provisions, consolidate associated exemptions and ensure that the reporting requirements are fit for purpose and clear as to the roles and responsibilities of reporting entities.

REP 755 highlights the key issues that arose out of the submissions received on CP 361 and details our responses to those issues.

Financial services

Financial markets

20/12/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Employee Share Schemes) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument

Facilitates employee share schemes (ESS) by removing unintended technical issues identified with the ESS provisions in Part 7.12 of the Corporations Act which commenced on 1 October 2022: see 22-370MR and CP 364

Amended: Class Orders [] and []

Financial services

Fundraising

Week beginning 12 December 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
14/12/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations and Credit (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument Extends the relief in obÌåÓý Credit (Litigation Funding-Exclusion) Instrument and the obÌåÓý Corporations (Conditional Costs Schemes) Instrument that has been provided since 17 January 2020 so that the relief continues to operate until 31 January 2026. The instrument revokes the relief for litigation funding schemes in obÌåÓý Corporations (Disclosure in Dollars) Instrument and obÌåÓý Corporations (Litigation Funding Schemes) Instrument . Credit

Funds management

Financial services

13/12/2022 REP 754 Target market determinations for small amount credit contracts Summarises obÌåÓý’s work in a targeted review of compliance with the design and distribution obligations by some Australian credit licensees offering small amount credit contracts. It highlights areas for improvement to help small amount credit contract lenders to consider, review and improve their target market determinations: see 22-352MR Credit
12/12/2022 REP 753 obÌåÓý enforcement and regulatory update: July to September 2022

Ìý

Provides an overview of obÌåÓý’s work and key matters between 1 July and 30 September 2022: see 22-349MR Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 5 December 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
9/12/2022 REP 751 Disputes and deficiencies: A review of complaints handling by superannuation trustees

REP 752 Review of written responses to superannuation complaints

REP 751 provides insights for compliance by superannuation trustees with enforceable obligations and guidance in RG 271 Internal dispute resolution andÌýoutlines areas for improvement.

REP 752 summarises the findings from an evaluation conducted for obÌåÓý by Susan Bell Research of 274 responses to general superannuation complaints issued by 10 trustees.

See 22-347MR

Superannuation
8/12/2022 INFO 274 Tips for giving self-managed superannuation advice Helps Australian financial services (AFS) licensees and their representatives comply with their obligations when providing personal advice about self-managed superannuation funds (SMSF) by:
  • highlighting SMSF risks and the importance of seeking professional advice;
  • ensuring comparisons about SMSFs and Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) regulated funds remain relevant and up-to-date;
  • removing guidance about a minimum balance for an SMSF reflecting that balance alone is not the driving indicator of suitability as illustrated in new case studies in INFO 274; and
  • consolidating existing guidance in INFO 205 and INFO 206

See 22-345MR

Financial services

Superannuation

8/12/2022 Outlines obÌåÓý and APRA’s concerns following complaints from consumers and reportable situations related to premium increases, particularly in relation to ‘levelâ€� premium products: see news item Financial services

Insurance

Week beginning 28 November 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
2/12/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Short Selling) Amendment Instrument Amends certain sections of the obÌåÓý Corporations (Short Selling) Instrument Financial markets
2/12/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Determination

obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Repeal Instrument

Determines obÌåÓý's policy of determining the allocation of Equity Market Products to tiers.

Repealed: obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Determination

Financial markets
30/11/2022 Remaking obÌåÓý class orders on takeovers, compulsory acquisitions, and relevant interests

Draft legislative instruments:

Sets out obÌåÓý’s proposals to remake the following class orders into legislative instruments related to takeovers, compulsory acquisitions and relevant interests:
  • [] Relevant Interests, obÌåÓý and obÌåÓý Chairperson, which sunsets on 1 April 2023
  • [] Changing the responsible entity, which sunsets on 1 October 2023
  • [] Relevant interests, voting power and exceptions to the general prohibition, which sunsets on 1 October 2023
  • [] Takeover bids, which sunsets on 1 October 2023
  • [] Compulsory acquisitions and buyouts, which sunsets on 1 October 2023
  • [] Bidder giving substantial holding notice, which sunsets on 1 October 2023
  • [] On-sale disclosure relief for scrip bids and schemes of arrangement, which sunsets on 1 October 2023
  • [] Warrants: Relevant interests and associations, which sunsets on 1 October 2023
  • [] Changes to a bidder’s statement between lodgement and dispatch, which sunsets on 1 October 2023.

See 22-331MR

Takeovers

Companies

Financial markets

Dealing with obÌåÓý

Ìý

Week beginning 21 November 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
24/11/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Financial Services Guides) Instrument Exempts an authorised representative of a financial services licensee (the licensee) from the requirement to give a Financial Services Guide to a person as a retail client for the authorised representative providing a financial service on behalf of the licensee, subject to conditions: see 22-327MR Financial services
24/11/2022 INFO 230 Exchange-traded products: Admission guidelines (reissued)

REP 750 Response to submissions on CP 356 ETP naming conventions: Updates to INFO 230

Ìý

Updated guidance on naming conventions for licensed Australian exchanges that admit exchange traded products (ETPs), dividing the naming conventions into two levels of labelling:
  • primary labels (‘ETFâ€� and ‘Structured Productâ€�) based on product type; and
  • secondary labels (‘Activeâ€� and ‘Complexâ€�) for products with specific risks or strategies.

See 22-325MR

Financial markets

Week beginning 14 November 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
17/11/2022 RG 8 Administrative hearings: Principles and conduct (reissued - new title)

RG 98 obÌåÓý’s powers to suspend, cancel and vary AFS licences and make banning orders (reissued)

Technical updates to ensure currency. Dealing with obÌåÓý
14/11/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) NSXA and SSX Markets (Operators and Participants) Class Waiver Remakes obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Class Waiver , obÌåÓý Waiver 18/260 and obÌåÓý Waiver 18/261, consolidates them into a single legislative instrument, and extends the operation of the relief granted under them to 17 November 2024. Financial markets

Week beginning 7 November 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
11/11/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Amends the following legislative instruments to facilitate the implementation of the corporate collective investment vehicles (CCIV) regime in Australia, which commenced on 1 July 2022:
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Application Form Requirements) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Changing Scheme and Retail CCIV Constitutions) Instrument (new title)
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Chapter 5C—Miscellaneous Provisions) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Exposure Period) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Externally-Administered Bodies) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Foreign Scrip Bids) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Registered Schemes and CCIVs—Differential Fees) Instrument (new title)
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Removing Barriers to Electronic Disclosure) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Sale Offers: Securities Issued on Conversion of Convertible Notes) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Share and Interest Purchase Plans) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Shorter PDS and Delivery of Accessible Financial Products Disclosure by Platform Operators and Superannuation Trustees) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Top-up Product Disclosure Statements Relief) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Class Order [] Equality of treatment impacting on the acquisition of interests
  • obÌåÓý Class Order [] Relief to facilitate quotation of exchange traded funds on the AQUA Market
  • obÌåÓý Class Order [] Periodic statements relief for AQUA quoted and listed managed investment scheme manager

See 22-152MR

Funds management
9/11/2022 obÌåÓý (Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy—Regulatory Costs) Instrument

obÌåÓý (Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy—Annual Determination) Instrument

Specifies:
  • obÌåÓý's regulatory costs and their attribution to each industry sub-sector, and
  • certain matters about the size and composition of obÌåÓý's regulated population and of the metrics that apply to each industry sub-sector within that regulated population,

under obÌåÓý's industry funding model for the 2021â€�22 financial year.

Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 24 October 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
28/10/2022 REP 743 Audit inspection report: 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022

See also reports on six largest audit firms:

REP 744 (BDO firms in Australia)

REP 745 (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Australia)

REP 746 (Ernst & Young Australia)

REP 747 (Grant Thornton Australia Limited)

REP 748 (KPMG Australia)

REP 749 (PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia)Ìý

Sets out findings from obÌåÓý's review of audit files for period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. It considers and suggests approaches to audit firm culture and talent, and outlines obÌåÓý's focus areas for individual audits and our regulatory responses: see 22-296MR Auditors
27/10/2022 REP 740 Insights from the reportable situations regime: October 2021 to June 2022 obÌåÓý’s first publication of the information provided under the reportable situations regime.

It provides high-level insights into the trends observed in reports lodged by licensees under the regime between 1 October 2021 and 30 June 2022.

See 22-295MR

Financial services

Credit

Dealing with obÌåÓý

26/10/2022 INFO 222 Improving and maintaining audit quality Technical updates to ensure currency. Auditors

Financial reporting

25/10/2022 obÌåÓý Data Strategy 2021â€�26 (reissued - HTML) Outlines obÌåÓý's vision to fully harness our data assets and analytics capabilities, empowering our people to put data into action and enabling data-informed regulatory decisions (enhanced HTML version) Dealing with obÌåÓý
25/10/2022 REP 741 Conduct risk in wholesale fixed income markets

REP 742 Managing conflicts of interest in wholesale financial markets

These reports summarise obÌåÓý’s surveillance activities and complement existing obÌåÓý regulatory guidance by providing practical examples of practices observed: see 22-288MR Financial markets
25/10/2022 RG 206 Credit licensing: Competence and training (minor update)Ìý Wording of Note 2 under para RG 206.8 updated to reflect the most current version of the Financial Services Training Package. Credit

Week beginning 17 October 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
21/10/2022 Cost recovery implementation statement - 2021-22 (new) Details obÌåÓý’s estimated levies by industry sector and subsector as required under the industry funding model. obÌåÓý released the draft CRIS in June 2022 for feedback. The final statement summarises the feedback obÌåÓý received: see 22-130MR and 22-285MR. Dealing with obÌåÓý
20/10/2022 REP 738 Licensing and professional registration activities: 2022 updateÌý (updated - first published 30/9/2022) Minor updates to some of the data in Table 1. Financial services
19/10/2022 REP 739 Root cause analysis: Audit firm thematic reviewÌý Summarises thematic findings from our review of root cause analysis of negative audit quality findings performed by the largest six audit firms between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2021 (review period). The report also outlines good practices we observed and better practice recommendations for audit firms performing root cause analysis: see 22-283MR Auditors

Financial reporting

Companies

19/10/2022 INFO 80 How to interpret obÌåÓý insolvency statistics (reissued) Updated to reflect consolidation of Series 1, 1A, 1B and Series 2, 2A, 2B insolvency statistics into Series 1 and 2. INFO 80 now explains how to interpret Series 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4A (current insolvency stats). Insolvency

Liquidators

Companies

Week beginning 10 October 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
14/10/2022 obÌåÓý Annual Report 2021-22 (new)

Ìý

Outlines obÌåÓý’s key regulatory and enforcement outcomes for 2021â€�22: see 22-276MR Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 3 October 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
6/10/2022 RG 131 Funds management: Establishing and registering a fund (reissued)

RG 134 Funds management: Constitutions (reissued)

RG 240 Hedge funds: Improving disclosure (reissued)

RG 259 Risk management systems of fund operators (reissued - new title)

Updates to support the licensing and other requirements for corporate collective investment vehicles (CCIVs) which came into effect on 1 July 2022, when the CCIVs regime commenced: see 22-152MR Funds management

Week beginning 26 September 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
30/9/2022 REP 738 Licensing and professional registration activities: 2022 updateÌý Outlines obÌåÓý’s licensing and professional registration activities, discusses new and proposed changes to our licensing processes, and notes other work that affects licensees: see 22-268MR Financial services
30/9/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Business Introduction Services) Instrument

RG 129 Business introduction and matching services (reissued)

Extends the relief for business introduction services for registered managed investment schemes until 1 April 2025, which was due to expire on 1 October 2022: see 22-267MR Funds management
30/9/2022 INFO 170 MySuper product dashboard requirements for superannuation trustees (reissued) Reissued to include updated guidance on how to disclose historical returns in circumstances where there has been a significant change to product design, strategy or governance in a MySuper product. Additional changes include clarification on the disclosure required for the moving average return when disclosing the comparison between the return target and the returns for previous financial years, additional comments on APRA reporting standards and technical legal updates. Superannuation
29/9/2022 CP 364 Modifications to the ESS regime

(PDF 254 KB)

Sets out our proposals on relief for secondary sales of financial products issued by listed entities, clarification of salary sacrificing arrangements and financial information that unlisted companies may provide to facilitate the employee share scheme provisions in Pt 7.12 of theÌýCorporations Act 2001: see 22-265MR Fundraising
28/9/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Cash Settlement Fact Sheet and Confirming Transactions) Instrument Exempts insurers from providing certain notifications where doing so creates risks of family violence:Ìýsee 22-261MR Financial services
27/9/2022 RG 277 Consumer remediation (new)

REP 737 Response to submissions on CP 350ÌýConsumer remediation: Further consultationÌý

(PDF 325 KB)

Making it right: How to run a consumer-centred remediation

Comprehensive guidance that allows licensees to scale and tailor their remediations to fit the circumstances: see 22-260MRÌý

Ìý

Financial servicesÌý

Superannuation

Funds management

Ìý

Week beginning 12 September 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
15/09/2022 RG 148 Platforms that are managed investment schemes and nominee and custody services (partial update)

RG 175 Licensing: Financial product advisers—Conduct and disclosure (partial update)

RG 184 Superannuation: Delivery of product disclosure for investment strategies (reissued)
Updates made as a result of CPÌý358: see 22-142MR. There are no substantive changes to our guidance in RG 184. Formatting has been updated and repealed legislative instruments have been removed. Financial services

Superannuation

Funds management
14/9/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations and Superannuation (Website Disclosure Deferral) Instrument Exempts the Applicants from specified public disclosure obligations under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993, Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994, and the Corporations Act 2001 during a 3 month deferral period. Superannuation
13/9/2022 INFO 202 Disputes about the financial advisers register Technical amendments to ensure currency. Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 5 September 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
8/9/2022 obÌåÓý Data Strategy 2021â€�26 (new - PDF) Outlines obÌåÓý's vision to fully harness our data assets and analytics capabilities, empowering our people to put data into action and enabling data-informed regulatory decisions. Dealing with obÌåÓý
7/9/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Amends several instruments to implement temporary measures to assist unlisted entities affected by the impacts of COVID-19 by allowing them up to one additional month to complete financial reports and have those reports audited.

Amended:

  • Instrument
  • Instrument
  • Instrument
  • Instrument
Financial reporting
6/9/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Financial Requirements for Issuers of Retail OTC Derivatives) Instrument

Imposes specific financial requirements on AFS licensees that are authorised to make a market in over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives to retail clients. It modifies the Corporations Act by inserting s 912AB. Section 912AB requires retail OTC derivative issuers to comply with additional provisions set out in the instrument as part of satisfying the obligation to have adequate financial resources under paragraph 912A(1)(d) of the Corporations Act.

Repealed: Class Order []

Financial markets
5/9/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Product Intervention Order Extension—Binary Options) Instrument

REP 736 Response to submissions on CP 362 Extension of the binary options product intervention order

Extends obÌåÓý's product intervention order banning the issue and distribution of binary options to retail clients until 1 October 2031: see 22-243MR Financial markets
5/9/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Determination

obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Repeal Instrument

Determines obÌåÓý's policy of determining the allocation of Equity Market Products to tiers.

Repealed: obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Determination

Financial markets
5/9/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Amends the obÌåÓý Corporations (Derivative Transaction Reporting Exemption) Instrument to extend the operation of certain conditional exemptions and to exempt spot settlement transactions from transaction reporting requirements and position reporting requirements under the . Financial markets

Week beginning 29 August 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
30/8/2022 RG 169 Hawking and disclosure: Discretionary powers (reissued) There are no substantive changes to our guidance. Formatting has been updated and repealed legislative instruments have been removed. The title of the guide has been changed to 'Hawking and disclosure: Discretionary powers'. Financial servicesÌý

Week beginning 22 August 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
22/8/2022 obÌåÓý’s Corporate Plan 2022-26 - Focus 2022-23 Outlines obÌåÓý's strategic priorities for the next four years and its plan of action for the year ahead: see 22-227MR Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 15 August 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
16/8/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument Exempts insurers and brokers from certain retail client obligations in Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act 2001 for ‘incidental retail coverâ€� provided in business insurance contracts: see 22-222MR Financial servicesÌý

Week beginning 8 August 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
11/8/2022 REP 735 Retail investor research Provides a point-in-time snapshot of investor behaviour during a period of increased activity in retail markets since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, supplementing existing market data and research conducted in Australia and overseas. Prepared by SEC Newgate in close consultation with obÌåÓý: see 22-215MR Financial services

Week beginning 1 August 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
3/8/2022 RG 263 Financial Services and Credit Panel (reissued)

INFO 273 FSCP decisions: Your rights (new)

REP 734 Response to submissions on CP 359 Update to RG 263 Financial Services and Credit Panel

New guidance about the Financial Services and Credit Panel (FSCP):
  • purposes and composition of the FSCP,
  • an outline of the actions a sitting panel may take, including the FSCP’s processes and procedures around hearings, decisions and confidentiality, and
  • the rights of financial advisers affected by an FSCP decision, including how to make an application to vary or revoke FSCP decisions and how to seek an independent review of FSCP decisions.

See 22-206MR

Financial services

Credit

2/8/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Extends for a further 12 months the transitional relief for foreign financial services providers (FFSPs) from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services (AFS) licence when providing financial services to Australian wholesale clients.

Amended:

  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal and Transitional) Instrument
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (CSSF-Regulated Financial Services Providers) Instrument , and
  • obÌåÓý Corporations (Foreign Financial Services Providers—Limited Connection) Instrument

Also delays the commencement of the obÌåÓý Corporations (Foreign Financial Services Providers—Funds Management Financial Services) Instrument Ìý until 1 April 2024

See 22-203MR

Financial services
2/8/2022 RG 172 Financial markets: Domestic and overseas operators (reissued)

RG 241 Electronic trading (reissued)

RG 265 Guidance on obÌåÓý market integrity rules for participants of securities markets (reissued)

RG 266 Guidance on obÌåÓý market integrity rules for participants of futures markets (reissued)

Ìý

Updated guidance on payment for order flow, operational resilience and obÌåÓý portal transition.Ìý

Updates made are a result of:

  • CP 347Ìý
  • CP 314
  • CP 342
  • amendments to the (commencing 21 June 2022), and
  • transition from MECS to the .
Financial markets

Week beginning 25 July 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
28/7/2022 REP 733 obÌåÓý enforcement and regulatory update: April to June 2022

Ìý

Provides an update on obÌåÓý’s work between 1 April and 30 June 2022: see 22-193MR Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 18 July 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
21/7/2022 RG 69 Debentures and notes: Improving disclosure for retail investors (partial update)

RG 156 Advertising of debentures and notes to retail investors (partial update)

References to Class Order [CO 12/1482] When debentures can be called secured notes updated to and references to other regulatory documents updated to maintain currency. Companies

Fundraising

Week beginning 11 July 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
15/7/2022 INFO 268 FAQs: Regulation and registration of relevant providers who provide tax (financial) advice services (reissued) Technical updates to clarify some of the questions presently covered by the information sheet and to include some additional questions that have been raised by industry. Financial services
14/7/2022 REP 732 Pump and dump of micro-cap securities This report summarises our review of a series of pump and dump events that occurred in listed equity markets over 2020�21. These events had a high impact on the traded prices of micro-cap securities. Financial markets
13/7/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Product Intervention Order—Short Term Credit) Instrument

(PDF 400 KB)

obÌåÓý Corporations (Product Intervention Order—Continuing Credit Contracts) Instrument

(PDF 512 KB)

Prohibits the provision of short term credit and continuing credit contracts which involve unreasonably high fees charged to retail clients, in excess of the cost caps in the relevant exemptions in subsections 6(1) and 6(5) of the National Credit Code: see 22-182MR Credit

Ìý

Week beginning 4 July 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
8/7/2022 (PDF 187 KB) Adopts a temporary no-action position to enable large banks (‘eligible licensees�) to withhold the reporting of certain credit information on consumer credit reports where reporting the information could lead to consumer harm, including where a consumer may be the victim of family violence: see 22-175MR Credit
6/7/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Adara Advisors) Instrument Exempts representatives (Volunteers) of Adara Advisors from needing to be appointed as authorised representatives of both Adara Advisors and another licensee (Volunteer Firm), as would otherwise be required by subsection 911B(1) of the Corporations Act Financial servicesÌý
5/7/2022 RG 276 Superannuation forecasts: Calculators and retirement estimates (reissued)

RG 167 AFS licensing: Discretionary powers (reissued)

REP 731 Response to submissions on CP 351 Superannuation forecasts: Update to relief and guidance

obÌåÓý (Superannuation Calculators and Retirement Estimates) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument

Updates the relief which facilitates the provision of superannuation calculators and retirement estimates: see 22-173MR

Amended: obÌåÓý Corporations (Generic Calculators) Instrument

Superannuation
5/7/2022 INFO 28 About the court enforceable undertakings register (reissued) Technical update to reflect the reissue of RG 100 in November 2021 related to the change in terminology from 'enforceable undertakings' to 'court enforceable undertakings'. Dealing with obÌåÓý
4/7/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Financial Requirements for Corporate Directors of Retail Corporate Collective Investment Vehicles) Instrument Ìý Prescribes the applicable financial resources requirements for corporate directors of retail CCIVs: see 22-152MR Funds management

Week beginning 27 June 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
1/7/2022 RG 260 Communicating findings from audit files to directors, audit committees or senior managers (reissued)

REP 730 Response to submissions on CP 352 Communicating audit findings to directors, audit committees or senior managers

Updated to reflect obÌåÓý's new policy to routinely communicate negative findings from its reviews of audit files to directors, rather than the current exception basis: see 22-172MR Auditors

Companies

30/6/2022 CP 363 Remaking obÌåÓý class order on financial requirements for retail OTC derivative issuers Seeks feedback on obÌåÓý’s proposal to remake, without significant changes, Class Order [] Financial requirements for retail OTC derivative issuers which will expire (‘sunsetâ€�) if not remade: see 22-166MR Financial markets
28/6/2022 RG 274 Product design and distribution obligations (minor update) Note at RG 274.157 and RG 274.162 amended to state that issuers must provide significant dealing notifications to obÌåÓý through the . Financial servicesÌý

Week beginning 20 June 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
24/6/2022 REP 729 Review of trustee communications about the MySuper performance test Provides an update on obÌåÓý’s work on superannuation trustee communications relating to the annual performance test introduced in 2021 as part of the Your Future, Your Super reforms. It sets out our findings and our expectations of trustees for future communications about performance: see 22-154MR Superannuation
24/6/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Amends the obÌåÓý Corporations (Rounding in Financial/Directorsâ€� Reports) Instrument for changes to legislation impacting the financial reporting requirements of entities under the Corporations Act. Financial reporting
24/6/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Redraw Facility Transfer) Instrument Provides an exemption under s994L(1)(a) of the Corporations from compliance with Part 7.8A in relation to certain replacement credit contracts Credit
23/6/2022 INFO 272 How to register a corporate collective investment vehicle and sub-fund

REP 728 Response to submissions on CP 360 Corporate collective investment vehicles: Preparing for the commencement of the new regime

obÌåÓý Corporations (Financial Requirements for Corporate Directors of Retail Corporate Collective Investment Vehicles) Instrument

Reissued guidance (23/6/2022):

Reissued guidance (6/7/2022):

Documents to support the licensing and other requirements for corporate collective investment vehicles (CCIVs) which come into effect on 1 July 2022, when the CCIVs regime commences: see 22-152MR Funds management

Week beginning 13 June 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
17/6/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Notification of Authorised Representatives) Instrument Exempts Authorised Representatives from the requirement to notify obÌåÓý of the sub-authorisation of employees who provide a claims handling or settling service in relation to general or consumer credit insurance products: see 22-146MR Financial services
14/6/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (In-use Notices for Employer-sponsored Superannuation and Superannuation Dashboards) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Shorter PDS and Delivery of Accessible Financial Products Disclosure by Platform Operators and Superannuation Trustees) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Financial Services Guide Given in a Time Critical Situation) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal) Instrument

obÌåÓý has remade and combined seven legislative instruments which were due to sunset in the next two years providing relief in relation to:
  • Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) in-use notices for employer-sponsored superannuation and choice product dashboard disclosure
  • shorter PDSs and PDS obligations for superannuation trustees, IDPS operators and responsible entities of IDPS-like schemes, and
  • the giving of Financial Services Guides in time critical situations.

Four further redundant legislative instruments have also been repealed.

See 22-142MR

Repealed:

  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Class Order []
  • Instrument
  • Instrument
Financial services

Superannuation

14/6/2022 INFO 271 How to avoid greenwashing when offering or promoting sustainability-related products Guidance to help issuers avoid ‘greenwashing� when offering or promoting sustainability-related products and provide investors with the information they should have to make informed decisions: see 22-141MR Financial services

Superannuation

Funds management

Week beginning 6 June 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
10/6/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Capital, Securities Markets) Barclays Capital Asia Limited Waiver Provides conditional waivers granted to Barclays Capital Asia Limited under the and the in relation to capital reporting requirements and record keeping. Financial markets
9/6/2022 INFO 270 Warnings and reprimands Explains the new requirement for obÌåÓý to give warnings and reprimands to financial advisers in specified circumstances under the : see 22-139MR Financial services
7/6/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets and Futures Markets) Amendment Instrument Amends:
  • obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Amendment
  • obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets and Futures Markets) Amendment Instrument , and
  • Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets and other obÌåÓý-Made Rules) Amendment Instrument ,

to provide for a specific date of commencement.

Financial markets
6/6/2022 Draft Cost Recovery Implementation Statement 2021�22 (for feedback)

Outlines obÌåÓý’s estimated regulatory costs for 2021â€�22 and indicative levies based on our planned regulatory work and associated costs for the 2021â€�22 financial year.Ìý

Feedback on the draft CRIS can be submitted until 28 June 2022: see 22-130MR

Dealing with obÌåÓý
6/6/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Determination

obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Repeal Instrument

Maintains obÌåÓý's policy of determining the allocation of Equity Market Products to Tier 1 and Tier 2, commencing 11 July 2022.

Repealed:ÌýobÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Determination

Financial markets
6/6/2022 obÌåÓý (Amendment) Instrument Amends the obÌåÓý (Senior Staff Members—Determination) Instrument , expanding definitions and enabling certain ATO staff to perform and exercise registry functions and powers. Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 30 May 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
2/6/2022 Updated ePayments Code Provides enhancements to and clarifies a number of existing protections for consumers including covering payments made using the New Payments Platform. obÌåÓý has also updated the following areas of the Code:Ìý
  • compliance monitoring and data collection;Ìý
  • mistaken internet payments;Ìý
  • unauthorised transactions;Ìý
  • complaints handling; andÌý
  • facility expiry dates.Ìý

See 22-125MR

Financial services

Credit

Technology


Ìý

31/5/2022 Notifiable instruments:

obÌåÓý Corporations (Law Societies—Fidelity and Indemnity Schemes) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Law Societies—Statutory Deposit Accounts and Public Purpose Funds) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Foreign Financial Services Provider—Queensland Fidelity and Indemnity Schemes) Instrument

See also: Instrument 22/0438 (obÌåÓý Gazette )

Exempts law societies of Australia's states and territories and Lexon from obligations under the Corporations Act in relation to the fidelity and indemnity schemes and statutory deposit accounts and public purpose funds for which they are responsible.

Repealed: [SCO 03/1094], [SCO 03/1095], [SCO 04/265], [SCO 04/266], [SCO 05/678], [SCO 05/679], [SCO 06/468], [SCO 08/385] and [SCO 09/537]

Financial servicesÌý

Week beginning 23 May 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
26/5/2022 CP 362 Extension of the binary options product intervention orderÌý Summarises obÌåÓý’s analysis of the impact of our product intervention order banning the issue and distribution of binary options to retail clients.

It also sets out our proposal to extend the order so that it will remain in force until it is revoked or sunsets. The proposal is subject to consultation and Ministerial approval.

See 22-118MR

Financial services

Financial markets

Ìý

26/5/2022 REP 727 Regulator Performance Framework: obÌåÓý self-assessment 2020â€�21 Provides a set of six common key performance indicators (KPIs) for Australian Government regulators.

Sets out obÌåÓý’s self-assessment of its performance against the KPIs in 2020â€�21. It supplements obÌåÓý’s Annual report 2020â€�21.

Financial services

Financial markets

Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 16 May 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
16/5/2022 CP 361 Proposed changes to simplify the obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Reporting): Second consultation Sets out further proposals to amend the made under s901A of the Corporations Act 2001, following the first round of consultation in Consultation Paper 334 Proposed changes to simplify the obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Reporting): First consultation (CP 334).

Provides feedback on the first round of consultation.

Financial markets

Week beginning 9 May 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
13/5/2022 REP 726 Response to submissions on CP 353 Proposed amendments to the obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Clearing) 2015

obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Clearing) Amendment Instrument

Highlights the key issues that arose out of the submissions received on Consultation Paper 353 Proposed amendments to the obÌåÓý Derivative Transaction Rules (Clearing) 2015 (CP 353) and details our response to those issues.

Amended:

Financial markets
10/5/2022 INFO 226 Complying with the obÌåÓý Client Money Reporting Rules 2017 (updated) Updated guidance for AFS licensees lodging records and declarations:
  • The monthly reconciliation records should be lodged through the .
  • The annual declarations under Rule 3.1.2 should also be lodged through the .
  • The reports under Rule 3.1.1 should be submitted on the using the relevant form.
Financial markets
10/05/2022 INFO 265 Reports of suspicious activity in FICC markets (updated) Updated guidance for market intermediaries about reporting suspicious activity in fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) markets (FICC SARs) and how these reports should be lodged on the obÌåÓý Regulatory Portal using the relevant the form. Financial markets

Week beginning 25 April 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
28/4/2022 REP 725 obÌåÓý quarterly update: January to March 2021 Provides an update on obÌåÓý’s work undertaken between 1 January and 31 March 2022, including:
� acting against misconduct
� upholding market integrity
� implementing new obligations, and
� protecting consumers and investors

See Article

Dealing with obÌåÓý

Week beginning 18 April 2022

Date Regulatory document Description AGLS subject
19/4/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Extends the relief from certain dollar disclosures in PDSs for litigation funding schemes in obÌåÓý Corporations (Disclosure in Dollars) Instrument (dollar disclosure instrument) until 1 October 2026. The existing relief was due to expire on 28 April 2022: see 22-093MR Funds management

Financial services

Week beginning 4 April 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
8/4/2022 RG 268 Licensing regime for financial benchmark administrators (reissued) Adds new paragraphs 268.67�268.70 which deal with market announcements to address the possible cessation of a licensed benchmark Financial markets
6/4/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Product Intervention Order Extension—Contracts for Difference) Instrument

REP 724 Response to submissions on CP 348 Extension of the CFD product intervention order

Extends obÌåÓý's product intervention order imposing conditions on the issue and distribution of contracts for difference (CFDs) for a further five years to 23 May 2027: see 22-082MR Financial services
5/4/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets and other obÌåÓý-Made Rules) Amendment Instrument AmendsÌýobÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets and other obÌåÓý-Made Rules) Amendment Instrument Financial markets
4/4/2022 INFO 260 FAQs: Timeframe for passing the financial adviser exam (reissued) Technical updates to reflect amendments made to the Corporations Act by the and obÌåÓý Instrument Financial services

Week beginning 28 March 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
1/4/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Existing Providers) Instrument Puts in place interim measures to address an unintended prohibition on AFS licensees authorising certain Existing Providers to provide personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products. Financial services
31/3/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal and Transitional—Relief for Providers of Retirement Estimates) Instrument Repeals Class Order [] Relief for providers of retirement estimates, and provides transitional relief to extend its effect until the end of 31 December 2022: see 22-073MR Financial servicesÌý

Superannuation

30/3/2022 IDR data reporting handbook

obÌåÓý Corporations (Internal Dispute Resolution Data Reporting) Instrument

Outlines the final mandatory requirements for firms to report internal dispute resolution (IDR) data under the IDR data reporting framework: see 22-071MR and RG 271 Financial services
30/3/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Ìý

REP 723 Response to submissions on CP 357 Remaking relief for business introduction services

Ìý

Extends the existing relief for business introduction services until 1 October 2022. The extended relief is subject to a new requirement that persons who rely on the relief from 1 April 2022 must provide notice to obÌåÓý: see 22-070MR, CP 357 and submissions and RG 129

Amended: obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal and Transitional) Instrument

Financial services
30/3/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Commonwealth Financial Counselling—Financial Capability Services) Instrument Provides Australian financial services licensing relief for financial capability service providers who provide financial product advice about basic deposit products. Financial services
30/3/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Amends obÌåÓý Corporations (Derivative Clearing Exemption) Instrument so that Clearing Entities are not required to comply with Rule 2.1.1 of the Rules in respect of AUD FRAs entered into before 2 April 2024. Financial markets
28/3/2022 REP 722 obÌåÓý enforcement update July to December 2021 Provides an update on our enforcement action between 1 July and 31 December 2021: see 22-066MR Dealing with obÌåÓý
28/3/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Describing Debentures â€� Secured Notes) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal) Instrument

Remakes Class Order [] When debentures can be called secured notes, which was due to sunset on 1 April 2022, without substantial change: see 22-068MR Fundraising
28/3/2022 Updated regulatory guides:

RG 1

RG 36

RG 121

RG 236

RG 255

RG 259

RG 262

RG 275

Minor updates in relation to the breach reporting reforms that commenced on 1 October 2021 requiring Australian financial services licensees and Australian credit licensees to notify obÌåÓý of reportable situations. (NOTE: Issue dates unchanged) Financial services

Week beginning 21 March 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
25/3/2022 RG 85 Reporting requirements for non-reporting entities RG 85 provides guidance on the reporting requirements for non-reporting entities that prepare special purpose financial reports (SPFRs). From 30 June 2022 year ends, RG 85 is only relevant to non-reporting entities in the public sector and some not-for-profit private sector entities. For-profit private sector entities will no longer be able to use SPFRs. Financial reporting
21/3/2022 INFO 269 Discussing financial products and services online Provides guidance about discussing financial products and services online, outlining how the law applies to social media influencers, and the licensees who use them: see 22-054MR Financial services

Week beginning 14 March 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
17/3/2022 CP 360 Corporate collective investment vehicles: Preparing for the commencement of the new regime

Attachments 1-5:

  • Draft RG 2
  • Draft RG 3
  • Draft RG 105
  • Draft RG 126
  • Draft RG 166
Seeks feedback on our proposed guidance on corporate collective investment vehicles (CCIVs). It includes proposals on how we will:
  • assess Australian financial services (AFS) licence applications from corporate directors seeking to operate a CCIV
  • assess AFS licence applications from persons seeking to provide financial product advice on and/or deal in CCIV securities, and
  • administer the licensee obligations that will apply to corporate directors.

See 22-050MR

Funds management
16/3/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Futures Markets) Class Waiver Amendment Instrument Amends the obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Futures Markets) Class Waiver to extend it to 22 March 2024 Financial markets

Week beginning 7 March 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
10/3/2022 REP 719 Response to submissions on CP 314 Market integrity rules for technological and operational resilience

obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets and Futures Markets) Amendment Instrument

REP 720 Response to submissions on CP 342 Proposed amendments to the obÌåÓý market integrity rules and other obÌåÓý-made rules

obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets and other obÌåÓý-Made Rules) Amendment Instrument

REP 721ÌýResponse to submissions on CP 347 Proposed amendments to the prohibition on order incentives in the obÌåÓý market integrity rules

obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Amendment

Amended market integrity rules to:
  • promote technological and operational resilience of securities and futures market operators and participants
  • amend the prohibition on payment for order flow to address certain regulatory gaps, and
  • make deregulatory, minor and administrative amendments to 10 obÌåÓý-made rule books.

See 22-045MR

Financial markets
8/3/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Determination

obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Repeal Instrument

Maintains obÌåÓý's policy of determining the allocation of Equity Market Products to tiers, commencing 8 April 2022.

Repealed: Instrument

Financial markets
7/3/2022 REP 718 Response to submissions on CP 341 Review of the ePayments Code: Further consultation Highlights the key issues that arose out of the submissions received on Consultation Paper 341 Review of the ePayments Code: Further consultation (CP 341) and details our responses to those issues: see 22-041MR Financial markets
7/3/2022 RG 242 obÌåÓý’s power to wind up abandoned companies (reissued) Minor technical changes related to the transfer of administrative responsibilities for the Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme (FEG program) from the Department of Jobs to the Attorney-General's Department. Liquidators

Insolvency

Week beginning 28 February 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
3/3/2022 Relief to allow additional time for certain companies and registered schemes to hold virtual-only meetings, subject to conditions, to address challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic: see 22-035MR Companies

Corporate governance

Funds management

2/3/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Cash Settlement Fact Sheet) Instrument

(issued 8/2/22)

Alows insurers to give emergency payments to consumers in certain circumstances without first giving them a Cash Settlement Fact Sheet (CSFS): see 22-034MR Financial services
28/2/2022 CP 359 Update to RG 263 Financial Services and Credit Panel

Sets out obÌåÓý’s proposals to update Regulatory Guide 263 Financial Services and Credit Panel (RG 263) to reflect legislative changes in the (Better Advice Act): see 22-033MR Dealing with obÌåÓý

Financial services

Week beginning 21 February 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
25/2/2022 obÌåÓý Credit (Amendment) Instrument Amends [] Extension of transitional credit hardship provisions to extend the relief for simple arrangements following a hardship notice to 1 April 2024: see 22-031MR Credit
22/2/2022 INFO 29 External administration, controller appointments and schemes of arrangement: Most commonly lodged forms Technical amendments to ensure currency.

Liquidators

Insolvency

21/2/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (PDS Requirements for General Insurance Quotes) Instrument

obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal) Instrument

Continues to provide relief to address the practical difficulties for general insurers in giving a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to a consumer during a phone call. Replaces [] which was due to expire ('sunset') on 1 April 2022: see 22-028MR and CP 344) Financial services

Week beginning 14 February 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
18/2/2022 CP 358 Remaking obÌåÓý relief on PDSs, superannuation dashboards and FSGsÌý

obÌåÓý’s proposal to remake relief contained in seven legislative instruments relating to specific financial services disclosure requirements. Most of the instruments are due to expire (‘sunsetâ€�) in the next two years if not remade: see 22-024MR Financial services

Superannuation

15/2/2022 INFO 24 Deeds of cross-guarantee (reissued)

Ìý

Updates in relation to electronic signing and lodgement of documents for the purposes of obÌåÓý Corporations (Wholly-owned Companies) Instrument . Financial reporting

Week beginning 7 February 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
10/2/2022 obÌåÓý Corporations (Amendment) Instrument Amends obÌåÓý Corporations (Financial Counselling Agencies) Instrument to ensure that the relief which financial counselling agencies rely upon is not disrupted by the claims handling law reforms. Financial services

Week beginning 31 January 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
3/2/2022 REP 717 obÌåÓý quarterly update: October to December 2021 Provides an update on obÌåÓý’s work undertaken between 1 October and 31 December 2021: see 22-011MR Dealing with obÌåÓý
31/1/2022 Ìý Presents the findings from a high-level review by obÌåÓý of the governance practices of 10 large responsible entities of managed investment schemes: see article Funds management

Week beginning 24 January 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
25/1/2022 CP 357 Remaking relief for business introduction services: obÌåÓý Instrument 2017/186Ìý Sets out obÌåÓý’s proposals to amend its relief for business introduction services under obÌåÓý Corporations (Repeal and Transitional) Instrument , which is due to expire (‘sunsetâ€�) on 1 April 2022: see 22-007MR Financial servicesÌý
24/1/2022 obÌåÓý privacy policy (reissued) Reissued to:
  • amend para 21 to include a permitted general situation
  • amend para 24 to include Financial Services and Credit Panels and liquidator committees
  • amend para 25 to include a permitted general situation
  • add new paras 38â€�47 to outline how we handle information obtained through our website, Google analytics and our subscription services
  • amend para 50 to reflect the timeframe for acknowledging a request to access or correct personal information, and
  • amend para 93 to clarify the purposes for which personal information may be collected.
Dealing with obÌåÓý
24/1/2022 obÌåÓý Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) Class Waiver (Amendment) Instrument Extends the relief in obÌåÓý Market Integrity (Securities Markets) Class Waiver until 30 November 2023. Financial markets

Week beginning 17 January 2022

Date Regulatory document Description ÌýAGLS subject
20/1/2022 CP 356 ETP naming conventions: Updates to INFO 230

Seeks feedback on obÌåÓý's proposals to update the guidance in Information Sheet 230 Exchange traded products: Admission guidelines (INFO 230) on naming conventions for licensed Australian exchanges that admit exchange traded products (ETPs): see 22-003MR Financial markets
Last updated: 15/02/2023 09:58