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Public comment on ASIC's regulatory activities

This is Information Sheet 152 (INFO 152).

This information sheet explains:

Terms used in this information sheet

In this information sheet:

  • regulatory activities includes investigations, regulatory actions and other activities we undertake within our functions and powers – for example, releasing reports and consultation papers, meeting statutory requirements, and providing regulatory guidance
  • investigation is not limited to formal investigations conducted under section 13 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (ASIC Act). It refers to the range of actions that ASIC takes to ensure compliance with the law and includes conducting surveillances and direct engagement with a member of our regulated population
  • regulatory action includes enforcement actions, as well as actions taken by ASIC to achieve regulatory outcomes that do not involve criminal, civil or administrative proceedings. These outcomes may include ASIC accepting enforceable undertakings or negotiating agreements with a member of our regulated population to address past conduct
  • public reports includes media releases and any public written communication about the results of a thematic surveillance exercise but does not include publications about individuals or media releases about our enforcement or administrative decisions.

When ASIC may comment publicly

ASIC is Australia’s corporate, markets and financial services regulator. We strive to ensure that financial consumers and investors have trust and confidence and can participate in fair and efficient markets.

We are accountable to Parliament and the public for our investigations and regulatory activities, including regulatory actions arising from our investigations.

We engage in a wide range of communication activities to inform the public of our regulatory activities. This includes engaging with the public through a range of media channels (e.g. interviews and media briefings), by publishing information on our website (e.g. media releases, reports and regulatory guidance), and giving speeches and presentations.

Informing the public of our regulatory activities is important because it promotes:

  • public confidence in ASIC’s administration of the law – that is, there is transparency around what we are doing about people who break the law
  • compliance with the law by informing the public about the standards we expect and the consequences of failing to meet these standards.

Our general approach to public comment

ASIC has a strong policy of transparency and we are committed to communicating publicly about our regulatory activities. This includes naming entities in our public reports when it is appropriate to do so.

We will usually put out a public statement, such as a media release or media advisory, on significant regulatory activities and outcomes, in order to:

  • be transparent and accountable for what we do
  • help inform our regulated population and the public of expected standards and of our priorities and areas of focus.

We will also ensure that our reporting is accurate, objective, balanced and fair, and consistent with the objectives of ensuring public understanding of our regulatory activities, and promoting compliance with the law.

Taking down public statements

We will usually take down public statements about our regulatory outcomes after 10 years. In relation to criminal matters, this will generally coincide with the expiry of the waiting period for spent convictions under Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914. We will not, however, take down a public statement while the outcome is ongoing (such as where a person is permanently banned from providing financial services).

Any request for ASIC to take down a public statement, including if you have information to show that your conviction has been spent, should be sent to media.unit@asic.gov.au.

Requests to access ASIC’s media releases for non-criminal matters that are more than 10 years old should also be sent to media.unit@asic.gov.au.

Information on some regulatory outcomes will remain available on ASIC's registers. Once a regulatory outcome has been published on an ASIC register, it cannot be removed, even if the public statement has been taken down, unless ASIC is required by law to do so.

Limitations on informing the public of our regulatory activities

Despite the importance of informing the public of our regulatory activities, we may not release information to the public where, on balance, it may be against the public interest to do so – for example, to protect the legal rights of a person, to prevent a disorderly market, or where it may jeopardise a regulatory outcome.

Release of market sensitive information

We will generally consider if a proposed public release contains market sensitive information. Where it may contain market sensitive information and it is in the public interest to release the information, we will usually release the public statement when the relevant securities markets are closed.

Misreporting of information

In the event of a disorderly market as a result of misreporting following the release of an ASIC public statement, we will seek to issue a clarifying statement in a timely way.

When we may comment on investigations

We may make a statement about an investigation when it is in the public interest to do so.

If a matter is still in the investigation stage, it is generally accepted that a regulator such as ASIC must balance the public interest benefits of making a statement against the rights of the individual subject to the investigation.

There are a range of factors that we take into account when considering if making a statement about an investigation is in the public interest.

Specific factors that limit our ability to comment about investigations include:

  • legislative restrictions – for example, section 127 prevents disclosure of certain material, such as information provided to ASIC in confidence (this section requires ASIC to take all reasonable measures to protect information from unauthorised use or disclosure when it is given in confidence in connection to our powers and functions or in the exercise of our powers, or that is protected information, although certain exceptions apply)
  • the need to safeguard confidential or sensitive information (such as confidential information that may affect the price or the market for that product)
  • the potential to jeopardise investigations through the untimely release of information
  • privacy legislation and guidelines
  • ensuring a person’s right to a fair trial is not prejudiced
  • the risk of defamation or other legal proceedings against complainants, ASIC officers or other entities
  • compliance with court orders not to disclose information in certain circumstances
  • the need to use our resources efficiently – ASIC must allocate resources across a wide range of priorities and responsibilities.

Most importantly, we will consider whether making a statement would promote confidence in the integrity of the market, or facilitate the protection of consumers and investors in relation to the financial system. For example, there may be circumstances where making a statement could prevent widespread misconduct, or allay public concern about a matter having a significant negative impact on the operation of the market.

When considering whether to make a statement about an investigation we will weigh up any potential public benefits against the potential prejudice that we believe may be caused to any individuals who are, or who are likely to be, a subject of the investigation. Where the risk of damage to an individual from the publicising of an investigation is high, we will usually decide not to confirm or deny that we are investigating a matter until further facts about the alleged misconduct can be gathered, analysed and tested.

Where appropriate, we may also answer questions or provide information on our regulatory activities, including investigations, to parliamentary committees.

If we do comment on an investigation, this does not mean that a person will necessarily be the subject of any legal or other proceedings. No adverse inference should be drawn from an investigation involving that person.

Where we do confirm the existence of an investigation, we will generally make no further comment until the investigation is concluded. We will only provide updates on the progress of the investigation if it is in the public interest to do so. In determining whether updates are in the public interest, we will have regard to the principles set out in this information sheet.

In some circumstances third parties may suggest that we are investigating a matter. We will verify these comments if it is in the public interest to do so. In determining this we will have regard to the principles set out in this information sheet.

If we conclude an investigation without taking regulatory action, we will tell that to people previously identified as persons of interest, if possible. This notification is not, however, a guarantee that we will not take action in the future.

When we may comment on matters with the CDPP

Generally, we will not comment on whether a matter is referred to the CDPP before a prosecution is commenced.

We may confirm that an investigation is concluded and the appropriate regulatory action (if any) is being considered where:

  • we have previously confirmed the existence of an investigation
  • the matter is with the CDPP for consideration
  • there is a public interest in making such a statement.

When we may comment on regulatory actions

Unless the details of an investigation are otherwise made public, for example by a court, we will usually only make a public statement about regulatory actions:

  • in criminal proceedings – no earlier than at the time of the first court appearance by the accused
  • in civil proceedings – when the originating documents have been filed and served
  • in administrative proceedings – when the decision has been made and any relevant requirement for the decision to be gazetted and/or to update a register has been met
  • when we refer a case to the Takeovers Panel
  • when we secure a regulatory outcome.

Issuing media releases

Where we have publicised the laying of charges, we will generally publicise the outcome, including withdrawal of charges, acquittal or successful prosecution. If a matter is appealed, we will ordinarily publicise the outcome of the appeal. This may occur by an editorial note to the original media release.

In the same way, where we are a party to civil litigation, we will issue a media release or media advisory on the outcome of that litigation.

We will generally issue a media release or media advisory on the outcome of administrative proceedings, including merits reviews by the Administrative Review Tribunal. In these cases, the media release or media advisory will include the name of the person against whom the proceeding was taken and the outcome.

Note: In October 2024, we updated references to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in this information sheet to the Administrative Review Tribunal.

We will issue the media release or media advisory about the outcome of administrative proceedings even when the person has a right to appeal against or otherwise seek review of the decision. This is because there is a significant public interest in ensuring that consumers are aware of and informed about action taken by us. A relevant court or tribunal will have jurisdiction to suppress a decision pending the outcome of an appeal or review. We will normally oppose applications for orders to this effect.

Note: The Full Court of the Federal Court has confirmed the importance of the public being informed about ASIC’s banning decisions even when an application for review is pending: see Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Administrative Appeals Tribunal [2009] FCFCA 185.

Media releases or media advisories following licensing and banning decisions will not be issued until we have gazetted the decision and/or updated the relevant register in accordance with the timeframes specified in Section D of Regulatory Guide 98 ASIC’s powers to suspend, cancel and vary AFS licences and make banning orders (RG 98) and Section C of Regulatory Guide 218 Licensing: Administrative action against persons engaging in credit activities (RG 218).

Given statutory restrictions, media releases or media advisories following the issue of an infringement notice by the Markets Disciplinary Panel will not be issued until at least 28 days after the notice is given: see regulation 7.2A.15(1) of the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Corporations Regulations).

In some cases a committee, convened under Schedule 2 to the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act) to consider whether a registered liquidator should remain registered, may decide that we should publish specified information about the committee’s decision and its reasons. In those cases, we must give effect to the committee’s decision.

We will also usually issue a media release or media advisory when ASIC secures a regulatory outcome that does not involve criminal, civil or administrative proceedings – for example an enforceable undertaking, a negotiated agreement with a person or entity to address past conduct or a remediation payment.

We will always assert the right to make a regulatory outcome public, unless legal considerations require otherwise. We will not agree to keep regulatory outcomes secret. This is important for regulatory transparency and effective deterrence.

Following the institution of proceedings, we may also explain our enforcement action to the public, including through media interviews, and our reasons for pursuing the proceedings.

Advance notice

We may, at our discretion, give advance notice of a public statement about a regulatory outcome to interested parties. Advance notice will typically be restricted to an affected party in a matter resolved by negotiated agreement (including an enforceable undertaking). Where we provide a draft public statement or relevant extracts of the draft public statement to an affected party, we will:

  • provide it to the affected party no more than one business day prior to publication, except in exceptional circumstances, and
  • provide it to the affected party only for the purpose of checking the factual accuracy of the draft public statement.

Where appropriate, we may also provide advance notice of a public statement or a briefing to the Treasurer’s office, Treasury and other regulators and agencies.

All decisions regarding both the content and timing of public statements are made by ASIC.

When we may name entities in public reports

Generally, we will name entities (companies or firms) in our public reports when doing so will promote market integrity or consumer protection.

When deciding whether to name entities, we balance our function of promoting market integrity and consumer protection with other factors that weigh against naming them. These other factors include the impact on an identifiable individual, on fair and orderly markets, on regulatory proceedings, and on competition in a sector or subsector.

Where can I get more information?

Important notice

Please note that this information sheet is a summary giving you basic information about a particular topic. It does not cover the whole of the relevant law regarding that topic, and it is not a substitute for professional advice. We encourage you to seek your own professional advice to find out how the applicable laws apply to you, as it is your responsibility to determine your obligations.

You should also note that because this information sheet avoids legal language wherever possible, it might include some generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases, your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.

Information sheets provide concise guidance on a specific process or compliance issue or an overview of detailed guidance.

This information sheet was reissued in June 2023.

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Last updated: 16/06/2023 12:00