Australian information

• Corporations Act amended — three-tiered test now applies for dividend payments
• Draft new Australian Privacy Principles released
• Legislation introduced to require proper purpose test for access to share registers and boost enforcement powers
• ATO releases guidance for reporting of employee share schemes
• Government introduces legislation into Parliament to reverse effect of Sons of Gwalia decision
• ASX report on directors' blackout trading, Q1 2010
• ASIC increases fees as of 1 July
• Government introduces into Parliament amendments to reform corporate reporting requirements 
• Handling confidential information — ASIC consultation 
• Government releases exposure draft legislation to introduce proper purpose test for access to share registers
• CAMAC report on guidance to directors
• Government response to the report of the Government 2.0 Taskforce
• COAG outlines reforms to reporting requirements for NFP sector
• Government announces response to Henry Review of Australia’s tax laws
• ASIC confirms proxy documents can be lodged electronically 
• Government releases draft legislation to effect reversal of Sons of Gwalia decision
• ASX issues exposure draft on proposed amendments to Listing Rules on remuneration committees 
• ASX informally lodges proposed Listing Rules amendments on company trading policies with ASIC 
• Government responds to Productivity Commission report on executive remuneration
• Forums on the National Business Names project
• Governance implications of review of Australian Public Service administration 
• Second stage of superannuation review released — recommendations to improve efficiency
• Employee equity schemes — ATO issues guidance on ‘real risk of forfeiture’
• J.P Morgan and CSA Australian Registry Service Provider Survey 2010
• ASIC amends class order relief for share purchase plans
• Government proposes to extend APRA’s supervisory powers for crisis periods
• ASIC issues consultation paper on proposed market integrity rules
• Tax Agent Services legislation in effect — many in-house advisers affected
• Productivity Commission report on not-for-profit sector recommends administration through ASIC
• CAMAC recommends to the government removal of the ‘headcount’ test on schemes of arrangement
• ASIC to appeal against decision in Fortescue Metals case 
• Proper purpose test to be introduced for access to share registers 
• ASX releases information paper on capital raisings during financial crisis
• Proposed amendments to strengthen ASIC’s investigative powers and increase penalties
• Government to introduce legislation to reverse effect of Sons of Gwalia decision 
• Call for board review consultants for NSW state-owned corporations
• Productivity Commission final report on executive remuneration released

2009

• New rules for ASIC to take over market supervision from ASX
• ASIC issues proposals for handling confidential information and market soundings
• First stage of Cooper Review of superannuation system released
• Government releases exposure draft of bill to alleviate regulatory burden and streamline corporate reporting
• ASX Listing Rules — exposure draft amendments regarding company policies on trading windows and 'blackout periods'
• APRA issues revised remuneration standards for finance and insurance sector
• Executive terminations payments legislation is now in force
• NSW parliamentary inquiry finds whistleblowers need greater protection
• Government appoints panel on franchising and unconscionable conduct
• ASIC releases consultation paper setting out proposed guidance to directors on avoiding insolvent trading
• New international standard on risk management issued
• Executive remuneration bill passes through Parliament 
• Inspector-General of Taxation to review ATO large business audits 
• ASX report on disclosure of directors' interest notices — third quarter, 2009
• Agreement on principles for harmonisation of directors’ liability provisions 
• Goldman Sachs JBWere study finds strong correlation between governance and shareholder returns 
• Options paper released on protection for corporate whistleblowers
• Government introduces legislation to amend arrangements for taxation of employee share schemes
• Draft short selling regulations released
• NSW Prequalification Scheme: Audit and Risk Committee Independent Chairs and Members
• Productivity Commission releases draft report on executive remuneration
• OH&S laws to be harmonised — model legislation released
• ASIC relaxes ban on naked short selling
• ASIC issues consultation paper on handling market rumours
• Government releases regulations to define ‘termination payments’ for which shareholder approval will be required
• Referral to CAMAC — guidance for directors
• Penalties handed down in James Hardie case
• CAMAC report on board diversity released by government
• ASIC to supervise brokers
• Details released on Cooper superannuation review
• Changes to form-lodging arrangements for financial reporting class order relief
• Board of Taxation invites submissions to review of taxation of employee share schemes
• Standard business reporting — new tools and information released
• CAMAC report on market integrity
• AUSTRAC revises supervision strategy
• Consumer rights — government to review implied conditions
• Bill introduced by government to limit termination payments
• ASIC issues guidance on continuous disclosure for unlisted entities  
• Access to the register of members
• ASIC announces class order relief for share purchase plans
• Final policy statement released on taxation of employee share schemes
• ASIC guidance to entities preparing financial reports for period ending 30 June 2009 
• Fair Work Act now in effect, Regulations released
• ASX report on directors' share trading during backout period — first quarter, 2009
• Women Getting into Boards survey
• AUSTRAC accepts two enforceable undertakings
• Climate Institute and Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees collaborate to manage climate-related risks for superannuation funds
• Trade Practices Act amendments — cartel conduct, national consumer law, unit pricing 
• Agreement on a framework for uniform OH&S laws
• Government releases options for reform of access to share registers and regulation of off-market offers
• APRA consults on remuneration
• Employee share schemes — government consultation process
• Government releases greenhouse reporting compliance and enforcement policy
• ASIC removes ban on short selling of financial securities
• Exposure draft bill released to limit executive termination payments
• James Hardie decision
• Directors' share trading — ASX report for Q1, 2009
• ASIC seeking feedback on changes to its technology  
• St James Ethics centre finds link between employers’ ethics and employees’ loyalty and productivity
• Exposure draft — Corporations Legislation Amendment (Financial Services Modernisation) Bill 2009
• Creeping acquisitions — discussion paper
• Finsia report on climate change, ESG and the finance sector
• Prime Minister announces delay to start of emissions trading regime until 2011
• Corporations Regulations amended — clearing and settlement facilities, compensation rules
• Consolidations — exposure draft tax bill released
• Commonwealth Government to audit effect of laws on directors’ liability
• Australian Shareholders' Association releases new policy on executive remuneration 
• Executive remuneration inquiry begins
• Government releases draft carbon trading bill
• Treasury consultation on disclosure of covered short selling 
• Treasury paper linking governance to financial performance
• Panel releases further details of proposed national OH&S laws
• ASIC extends ban on covered short selling of financial securities
• ASIC issues consultation paper on equity capital raising
• Panel reviewing OH&S legislation releases recommendations
• CAMAC issues paper on market integrity
• COAG agreement to examine harmonised officer liability laws
• APRA to review guidance to superannuation funds to take account of ESG issues
• No recommendation to reverse Sons of Gwalia: CAMAC 
• ASX issues reminder on profit warnings for listed entities
• ASIC ban on covered short selling extended again
• Treasury to review ‘understandings’ under the Trade Practices Act
• Naked short selling — some exceptions to continue
• ASIC consultation paper on share purchase plan disclosure relief

2008

• White Paper on Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme released
• ASX report on directors' share trading during blackout period, Q3 2008
• Government foreshadows amendments to regulation of margin lending
• Disclosure of margin loans referred to CAMAC
• ASIC guidance to entities preparing financial and audit reports
• Government introduces Fair Work Bill to replace Workplace Relations Act
• Credit rating agencies encounter regulation
• Tax Office ruling to affect rights issues, share purchase plans, demergers and returns of capital
• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act — new obligations from 12 December 2008
• ACCC releases new Merger Guidelines, November 2008
• Exposure Draft Personal Property Securities Bill 2008, November 2008
• Proposed national OH&S legislation — first panel report released
• Directors' share trading — ASX report for Q3, 2008
• ASIC and ASX clarify disclosure and reporting requirements for short selling when ban is lifted
• ASIC media release on short sales reporting obligations
• Federal Government to introduce legislation to make serious cartel conduct a criminal offence
• ASIC extends covered short selling ban
• Carbon Disclosure Project finds further improvement in greenhouse reporting still required
• Notifying ASIC of the appointment of an auditor
• Government releases exposure draft legislation on short selling
• Tax treatment of rights issues — amendments to address concerns raised by McNeil case
• Revised guide on independence of auditors
• Government releases draft short selling bill
• ASIC media release on ban on short selling
• ASIC moves to ban short selling
• Midsize firms fail to match big business in compliance reporting
• Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law reiterates stance on short selling
• Australian Law Reform Commission releases report on future of privacy laws
• Treasury issues discussion paper on proposed tax reform
• AUSTRAC releases further information on anti-money laundering reporting obligations
• Government announces proposed carbon trading framework; reporting on emissions now mandatory
• Parliamentary Joint Committee report on shareholder engagement
• ASX report on directors' share and blackout trading
• Internet domain names to be deregulated  
• Amendments to Corporations Regulations 2001 to reduce regulatory compliance burden for managed investment schemes
• Executive remuneration — AASB announces amendments to standard for disclosure by entities about remuneration paid to key management personnel 
• Green Paper released — financial services reform
• Communiqué on remuneration of executive and non-executive officers
• ASIC extends class order relief for disclosing rights issues — [CO 08/35]
• ASIC announces results of its strategic review
• ASIC advice on appointment and resignation of auditor
• Anti-money laundering rule change for securities dealing
• ASIC introduces credit card payment option
• ASIC Class Order [CO 08/10] — Share and interest sale facilities 
• ASIC announces extension to relief for wholly owned entities under Class Order [CO98/1418] 
• Government to reform Corporations Act to clarify short selling rules
• ASX consultation paper on short selling
• Government releases draft legislation to introduce component pricing
• Dual-regulated institutions — new online reporting system announced
• Joint reminder to listed companies by ASX and ASIC about disclosure requirements 
• Spreading false or misleading information possibly an offence under Corporations Act
• Auditor appointment and resignation
• Draft Corporations Amendment Regulations released for consultation
• Renewed interest in establishment of Corporations Panel
• Treasurer releases principles for improving transparency of foreign investment screening
• ACCC proposes tighter mergers guidelines
• Financial services working group set up to simplify disclosure requirements
• ASX consultation paper on non-voting ordinary shares
• AASB consultation paper on proposed definition for not-for-profit entities
• Trade practices draft bill released — proposes criminalisation of serious cartel conduct