Australia

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

ASIC Targets Pressure Sales Tactics in Financial Advice Industry

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 24/06/2025

Commissioner Alan Kirkland said ASIC is concerned about high-pressure sales tactics used to lure people into unsuitable investments.

Anti-Money Laundering

New Academic Programmes Emerge to Address Financial Crime Skills Gap

By Manesh Samtani | 24/06/2025

A ‘generational crisis’ in financial crime has prompted the introduction of new academic programmes that blend theory with real-world investigative skills.

PEPs & Sanctions

Australian Sanctions Office Issues Statement to Clarify its Role

By Thisanka Siripala | 23/06/2025

AUSTRAC’s remit moving forward will include ensuring regulated entities have policies in place to comply with targeted financial sanctions obligations.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

ASIC Fines Equity Trustees for Misleading Investment Statements

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 22/06/2025

ASIC fined Equity Trustees for allegedly making misleading statements about investments made by a green and sustainable bond fund.

Credit Risk

APRA Finalises Guidance on Treating Borrowers with Student Debt

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 20/06/2025

The new reporting standard and regulations offer guidance on how ADIs should treat HELP debt repayments when assessing home loan applications.

PEPs & Sanctions

New Zealand Expands Sanctions Net to Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’

By Editors | 20/06/2025

New Zealand broadens Russia sanctions to target ‘shadow fleet’ along with individuals and entities in North Korea, Iran, and Belarus.

Data Privacy

ACCC Fines NAB Over CDR Data Quality Issues

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 19/06/2025

The ACCC said NAB’s payment of the penalties is the highest amount paid for alleged contraventions of the CDR rules to date.

Operational Risk

“Perfect Storm” of Operational Risks Brewing: APRA Official

By Thisanka Siripala | 19/06/2025

APRA’s Chris Gower said geopolitics, cyber threats, and third-party reliance create operational resilience challenges for the financial sector.

Supervision & Enforcement

ASIC Targets Misconduct in Consumer Credit and Car Finance Sectors

By Thisanka Siripala | 18/06/2025

Commissioner Alan Kirkland said ASIC is prioritising consumer credit protection, focusing on predatory lending, hardship assistance, and debt management