Finance Law and Banking Law

Australia's proposed capital gains tax reforms may inadvertently undermine government efforts to strengthen sovereign defence capability and innovation. As the nation faces increasing global instability and supply chain vulnerabilities, changes to the CGT regime could discourage investment in defence-focused startups precisely when such investment is most critical to national security objectives.

ASIC outlines key financial reporting, audit and sustainability focus areas for FY 2026–27

The 2026-27 Federal Budget introduced the most significant capital gains tax reforms in 25 years, replacing the 50% CGT discount with cost base indexation and a 30% minimum tax. Combined with new ASIC instruments on stamp duty and portfolio holdings disclosure, investment fund managers face coordinated disclosure, operational and structural challenges requiring substantial work over the next 12 to 18 months.

Explore the latest regulatory developments across Asia-Pacific financial markets, from Australia's scam prevention framework and ASIC's cybersecurity warnings to Hong Kong's stablecoin regime implementation and Singapore's enhanced market conduct controls. This comprehensive update covers critical changes in banking supervision, digital asset regulation, and investor protection measures that are reshaping the region's financial landscape.

Delegating your reporting obligations to a third party does not transfer your regulatory accountability. Across all major regimes, the reporting entity remains ultimately responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of submitted data

ASIC transaction reporting requires entities to submit an expanded set of data fields, including Item 49: Price Unit of Measure. This field specifies what unit a reported price refers to, drawn from ISO 20022 standardised codes, and must align with quantity measures to ensure internal consistency. Understanding when to populate this field and selecting the correct unit code are critical to avoiding common reporting errors.

You must consider privacy responsibilities if your business collects personal information. Importantly, this includes ensuring that you do not disclose any inaccurate personal information to third-parties.

The Australian debt capital market has transformed over the past couple of decades, particularly in the last few years. What was once a nascent and then narrow market with a questionable future has evolved into a significant component of our broader financial architecture

ASIC transaction reporting requires entities to submit an expanded set of data fields, including Item 49: Price Unit of Measure. This field specifies what unit a reported price refers to, drawn from ISO 20022 standardised codes, and must align with quantity measures to ensure internal consistency. Understanding when to populate this field and selecting the correct unit code are critical to avoiding common reporting errors.

Borrowers facing mortgage default must choose between refinancing their existing loan or selling their property voluntarily before enforcement action is completed. Understanding the practical differences between these options, including how each affects equity retention and borrower control, can significantly impact the financial outcome when default proceedings are underway.

Banks cannot automatically seize and sell a home after missed repayments in Queensland. Before exercising enforcement rights, lenders must comply with contractual obligations, statutory notice requirements, and court procedures, while borrowers may negotiate repayment arrangements, apply for hardship relief, refinance, voluntarily sell the property, challenge procedural defects, or rely on equitable or statutory protections.

Australia is testing the Taxonomy in practice with some of the country's largest financial institutions.