In a bold new play, a consortium led by social media giant Facebook has announced plans to enter the financial services sector through the launch of a cryptocurrency called Libra. Both a currency and a blockchain backed payment system, the project could have a profound impact on the financial servic ...

In his Interim Report, Commissioner Hayne rejected claims that misconduct in the financial services sector was the fault of 'a few bad apples' and did not raise 'broader or systemic concerns. This Insight considers what can and should be done about such systemic issues. ...

The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking Superannuation and Financial Services Industry Interim Report and a raft of announcements at the federal level over the past 12 months point clearly to a more robust enforcement environment for corporate Australia in 2019 and beyond Partner Paul ...

Proposed changes to the FSC Life Insurance Code designed to improve standards in product design sales underwriting customer service complaints and claim handling are afoot and the deadline for comments is fast approaching ...

Allens has written over the course of this year, the Royal Commission will bring and in fact already has brought monumental changes both in how banks are regulated and to the actual laws that apply ...

Commissioner Haynes recommendations may initially seem somewhat modest - they do not undo vertical integration impose limits on executive remuneration or ban bonuses and they do not recommend that directors prefer the interests of their customers But while it is true that the recommendations are not ...

ASIC's 'why not litigate?' approach to enforcement activities and its change in tone confirm the new era of regulatory engagement has arrived. In particular, its recent actions in the Federal Court place the waiving of legal professional privilege under the spotlight. ...

Four and a half years after the FSI recommended a targeted and principles-based design and distribution obligation the Design and Distribution Obligations and Product Intervention Powers Act 2019 the Act has recently received the Royal Asset Although the design and distribution obligations will not ...

On 8 May APRA released its answers to some frequently asked questions about the Protecting Your Super changes I would politely suggest that the questions asked and answered by APRA make up a fairly small subset of the questions that are in fact being asked in some cases very frequently about the PYS ...

The Victorian Government has proposed amendments to the Duties Act which could have a dramatic impact on the stamp duty outcomes for development projects particularly for residential developments and other fee for service arrangements for real estate in Victoria. ...