The Australian Securities & Investments Commission has launched a consultation on remaking the legislative relief that allows low-volume financial markets to operate without an Australian market licence. ASIC proposes to preserve the relief ahead of the current instrument’s sunset on 1 October 2026, on the basis that it is operating effectively and remains a necessary part of the legislative framework. The only substantive policy change would lift the transaction value threshold for qualifying markets to AUD 2.5 million from AUD 1.5 million. To qualify as a low-volume financial market, a market must have entered into no more than 100 completed transactions in the previous 12 months and the total value of those transactions must not exceed the relevant threshold before the market is included on the register. The relief exempts such markets from the requirement to hold an Australian market licence by disapplying Part 7.2 of the Corporations Act 2001. ASIC said the threshold increase reflects factors including inflation, noting it has not been changed since 2016. All other proposed amendments are described as minor, technical or consequential and not material to the instrument’s operation.
Australian Securities & Investments Commission2026-07-23
Australian Securities & Investments Commission consults on remaking low-volume market licence relief, raises transaction threshold to AUD 2.5 million
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission is consulting on remaking the relief that exempts low-volume financial markets from holding an Australian market licence before the current instrument sunsets on 1 October 2026. Its only substantive proposed change is to raise the transaction value threshold to AUD 2.5 million from AUD 1.5 million, while keeping the 100-transaction limit. Other amendments are minor and technical.