The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) published its 2025-26 annual report, recording court orders for AUD 830 million in civil penalties and more than AUD 580 million in repayments and refunds for consumers and investors. During the year, ASIC commenced 260 formal investigations and 32 civil proceedings involving 65 defendants, and completed 1,012 surveillances. Major enforcement outcomes included combined penalties of AUD 250 million against ANZ and a record AUD 300.2 million penalty against Union Standard International Group and two former corporate authorised representatives. Action linked to the Shield and First Guardian collapses comprised 15 Federal Court proceedings against 30 defendants, while about 4,000 consumers received approximately AUD 421 million following enforceable undertakings with Macquarie and Netwealth. Banks also committed more than AUD 160 million in refunds, and more than 810,000 customers moved to accounts with low fees. ASIC removed more than 19,400 investment scam and phishing websites and associated social media advertisements. Its wider regulatory work covered an inquiry into ASX Group’s governance, capability and risk management, stronger expectations for private credit funds, action over inadequate cyber security and simplification of regulatory guidance and filing processes.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission reports court orders for AUD 830 million in civil penalties and over AUD 580 million in repayments and refunds
ASIC recorded court orders for AUD 830 million in civil penalties and helped secure more than AUD 580 million in repayments and refunds during 2025-26. It commenced 260 formal investigations and 32 civil proceedings, with major outcomes involving ANZ, the contracts for difference sector and the Shield and First Guardian collapses. Regulatory work also targeted scams, financial market infrastructure, private credit and cyber security.