Australia: Compliance

Sponsor obligations and work rights checks carry real penalties, and Home Affairs can monitor your compliance. This comprehensive checklist helps employers identify and address compliance gaps across their sponsored workforce before an inspector arrives.

Treasury proposes enhanced data collection for managed investment schemes following recent fund collapses, while ASIC intensifies scrutiny of private credit products through interim stop orders...

Treasury's September 2026 Financial Innovation Strategy highlights Australia's need for a more innovative and competitive financial system. As major reforms across AML/CTF, payments, digital assets, privacy and AI governance take effect, Australian FinTechs face a critical decision about when and how to invest in legal capability.

The Australian Government has released exposure draft legislation for a proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts, effective from 1 July 2028. Trustees now face three strategic pathways: remain within the minimum tax regime, restructure using transitional rollover relief, or elect into the new excluded election trust (EET) regime with restricted distribution flexibility.

The Australian Government's proposed digital duty of care reforms would extend online safety obligations far beyond social media platforms to encompass any business operating websites, digital platforms, or AI-enabled tools. Rather than simply responding to complaints, businesses would need to proactively identify foreseeable risks and implement safeguards, with substantial penalties for non-compliance reaching up to $109.2 million for companies. The exposure draft introduces a fundamental shift from reacti

ASIC's 2026-27 Corporate Plan identifies non-bank small business lending practices as a regulatory focus area, particularly concerning unfair contract terms in standard form agreements. This article examines five common clauses in SME loan agreements that may expose lenders to enforceability challenges and regulatory action, drawing on recent court decisions to illustrate key UCT risks.

ASIC's Report 838 reveals significant transparency gaps in motor vehicle insurance premium communications, finding that renewal documents often fail to explain price changes adequately and that over 30% of consumers who contacted their insurer successfully negotiated lower premiums. The report establishes clear expectations for better practice in pricing disclosures and signals continued regulatory scrutiny of insurance pricing practices.

An undischarged bankrupt faces strict legal obligations including cooperating with trustees, disclosing all property and financial changes, and obtaining consent before international travel. What are the criminal penalties for breaching these restrictions, and how can early disclosure and proper legal advice help navigate trustee negotiations more effectively than denial or delay?

How much time can government agencies reasonably claim when refusing FOI requests on resource grounds? A recent Information Commissioner decision examines DFAT's 113.75-hour processing estimate for sanctions-related documents, clarifying when complexity, sensitivity and specialist review requirements justify substantial resource claims under section 24AA of the FOI Act.