Corporate governance

Directors and company officers play an essential role in establishing and maintaining the standard of a company's corporate governance.

Corporate governance is a driver of the operations and performance of a company. The term 'corporate governance' is broad and has many components including relationships between stakeholders, frameworks, decision making and responsibility.

ASIC guidance

ASIC provides guidance to assist individuals and responsible entities to comply with their obligations, make good decisions and act in the best interests of investors.

We regularly engage with stakeholders on corporate governance-related issues through articles in external publications, speeches at events and the publications of reports, regulatory guides and information sheets.

The following articles, speeches and other publications detail ASIC’s viewpoint on aspects of corporate governance.

• Corporate Governance Taskforce
• Managing conflicts
• Shareholder engagement
• Director oversight of financials and audit
• Emerging risk management
• Handling corporate information
• Executive remuneration
• Directors and corporate culture
• Corporate actions involving share capital
• Directors as gatekeepers
• Introductory and procedural guidance
• Guidance for company officers and company auditors on the whistleblower protection regime

Other sources of guidance

Regulatory and best practice guidance in relation to matters of corporate governance can also be found at:

• ASX (including the ASX Corporate Governance Council)
• Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Governance Institute of Australia
• Financial Services Council
• Australian Council of Superannuation Investors.

Guidance on matters of corporate governance – particularly directors' duties – can be found in the judgements of various Australian courts.