Australia

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

Australia Court Hits ANZ With Record A$ 250m Penalty for Misconduct

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 19/12/2025

Largest-ever penalty secured by ASIC follows systemic failures in retail banking and unconscionable conduct in government bond deal.

Structural Regulation

Australian Regulators Unveil Roadmap to Cut Financial Sector Red Tape

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 19/12/2025

A multi-agency plan details over 50 commitments to simplify rules, streamline data reporting, and reduce compliance burdens for FIs.

Clearing & Post-Trade

ISDA Urges ASIC to Align Derivatives Clearing Rules with Global Norms

By Manesh Samtani | 19/12/2025

ISDA says proposed rules for post-trade risk reduction are too narrow and diverge from international practice.

Structural Regulation

ASIC Clarifies Tech Resilience Rules for Market Operators, Participants

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 19/12/2025

ASIC has updated its guidance to simplify compliance, clarify rules on outsourcing critical services, and define major event reporting.

Cryptocurrency

Australia Court Orders Winding Up of Crypto Firms Over A$59m Unlicensed Scheme

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 19/12/2025

The Federal Court found the firms operated an unregistered managed investment scheme and acted without a licence.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

Australia Cracks Down on Super Platform Trustees for Governance Failures

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 18/12/2025

Equity Trustees and Netwealth face strict new conditions over weak investment oversight. Netwealth to pay over AUD 100m in compensation.

Anti-Money Laundering

Australia Regulators Hit Bendigo Bank with Capital Charge, Probe AML Failings

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 18/12/2025

APRA and AUSTRAC have imposed a capital add-on and launched an enforcement investigation into the bank's risk management.

Structural Regulation

Equifax to End Exclusive Data Deals in Australia After ACCC Probe

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 18/12/2025

The ACCC acted on concerns that exclusive contracts for payroll data were harming competition in the automated income verification market.

PEPs & Sanctions

Australia Warns FIs on Iran Shadow Banking Risks, Details Evasion Tactics

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 18/12/2025

Advisory note from the ASO and AUSTRAC details methods including crypto, front companies and informal networks used to circumvent sanctions.