The Australian Securities & Investments Commission reported administrative action against 36 approved self-managed superannuation fund auditors between 1 January 2026 and 30 June 2026, taking its total actions in fiscal year 2026 to 64. The cases involved serious breaches of SMSF auditor obligations and marked a year-on-year increase in enforcement activity against auditors that act as gatekeepers for more than AUD 1 trillion in SMSF assets across more than 672,000 funds. The January to June actions comprised four disqualifications, three suspensions, eight cases where additional conditions were imposed and 21 registration cancellations. ASIC linked the measures to failures to maintain independence, non-compliance with auditing and assurance standards, breaches of continuing professional development requirements, failure to maintain practical experience, failure to lodge annual statements, and concerns that an auditor was not fit and proper to remain registered. Across the full 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 period, ASIC made 64 administrative decisions, resulting in eight disqualifications, three suspensions, 10 conditional registrations and 43 cancellations. Under the Superannuation Industry Supervision Act 1993, affected SMSF auditors can seek reconsideration of ASIC decisions and, if a decision is confirmed or varied, apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal. One suspension decision was under reconsideration at the time of the release, and one cancellation for multiple annual statement non-lodgements was later reinstated after a review request.

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