ASIC succeeds in its third civil penalty prosecution for greenwashing, with the Federal Court imposing a $10.5 million penalty
Court findings On 18 March 2025, his Honour Justice O’Callaghan imposed a civil penalty of $10.5 million on the trustee of a superannuation fund, after finding that the fund had made false or misleading statements to current or potential members of the fund to the effect that: it eliminated from the fund, investments that posed […]
ReadmoreWhyalla wipeout: State-sponsored upending of creditor waterfall?
Background On 19 February 2025, the South Australian government forced OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd (the Company), the operator of the Whyalla steelworks, into external administration in response to protracted failures to pay outstanding royalties owed to the State and trade debts of at least $300 million. The administrators’ appointment was procured by urgent amendments to […]
ReadmoreAustralian Banking Association (ABA) launches new banking Code: a big step forward for banking staff and customer protection
Introduction to the new Code The Australian Banking Association’s (‘ABA’) new Banking Code of Practice (‘the Code’) came into effect on 28 February 2025. This latest iteration of the Code introduces enhanced customer protection and accessibility and sets higher standards for banks and their staff. The new Code sees significant structural and semantic changes from […]
ReadmoreHCF Life’s ‘pre-existing condition’ clause in life insurance contracts declared misleading but not an ‘unfair contract term’ by Federal Court
Following proceedings commenced by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Federal Court declared on 28 October 2024 that a term used by HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Ltd (HCF Life) in consumer contracts was misleading, but not an unfair contract term. The HCF Life case follows a number of other high profile cases […]
ReadmoreJudgment against ‘pre-insolvency’ adviser for involvement in asset-stripping scheme
The Federal Court of Australia recently handed down a landmark judgment against a third party adviser for devising an asset-stripping scheme and breaching the creditor-defeating disposition provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). A creditor-defeating disposition is a disposal of company property that prevents, hinders or significantly delays that property from becoming available for the […]
ReadmoreGadens Regulatory Recap – 24 September 2024
This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, and ACCC including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC ASIC calls on product issuers to review distribution practices for DDO compliance: ASIC is urging product issuers to improve their distribution practices following a review that found significant issues with how […]
ReadmoreChanging development approvals for developers and property owners in Queensland
Developers or property owners often need to make changes to a development approval in response to changing market conditions or operational needs. In Queensland, under the Planning Act 2016 (Qld) (PA) a person may apply to change a development approval for either a ‘minor change’ or a change ‘other than for a minor change’ (other […]
ReadmoreGadens Regulatory Recap – 4 September 2024
This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, ACCC, OAIC, Treasury, and the Federal Parliament including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC ASIC continues extensive action against greenwashing ASIC has made 47 regulatory interventions in relation to greenwashing misconduct, including commencing two Federal Court proceedings and issuing over […]
ReadmoreGadens Regulatory Recap – 21 August 2024
This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, OAIC, ACCC, and Treasury including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC Financial advice update: The Financial Advice Update, published by ASIC on 9 August 2024, highlights key regulatory developments affecting Australian financial services (AFS) licensees and financial advisers. The update […]
ReadmoreASIC continues focus on financial hardship processes
Lenders should prepare for both an increase in financial hardship applications and heightened scrutiny from the regulator on how these hardship applications are managed. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has found that lenders are not complying with their obligations in the cases of customers who are facing financial difficulty. As the cost of […]
ReadmoreCourt orders Mercer Superannuation to pay an $11.3m penalty
Last year, ASIC commenced proceedings seeking declarations, pecuniary penalties and adverse publicity orders against Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited (Mercer) alleging that Mercer had made false or misleading representations and engaged in conduct that was liable to mislead the public in relation to financial services in contravention of sections 12DB(1)(a) and 12DF(1) of the Australian Securities […]
ReadmoreGadens Regulatory Recap – 8 August 2024
This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, OAIC, ACCC, and Treasury including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC ASIC’s first greenwashing case results in landmark $11.3 million penalty for Mercer The Federal Court has ordered Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited (Mercer) to pay $11.3 million in penalties in […]
Readmore
