Australian Securities & Investments Commission consults on remaking three financial reporting relief instruments and letting offer information statement relief sunset

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has launched a consultation on proposals to remake three legislative instruments that provide financial reporting-related relief and are scheduled to sunset on 1 April 2026, while allowing a fourth instrument on offer information statements to lapse. ASIC indicates the remade instruments would operate unchanged and has also proposed withdrawing Regulatory Guide 28 on dual lodgement as redundant. The instruments proposed to be remade cover rounding in financial and directors’ reports (ASIC Instrument 2016/191), electronic lodgment of financial and sustainability reports for entities listed on the ASX Limited, National Stock Exchange of Australia Limited and Sydney Stock Exchange Limited (ASIC Instrument 2016/181), and relief that preserves eligibility for ‘continuously quoted securities’ and related cleansing notices where other ASIC instruments would otherwise disqualify the securities (ASIC Instrument 2016/73). ASIC proposes to let ASIC Instrument 2016/76, which allows the financial reporting period in an offer information statement to vary from 12 months by up to seven days, sunset on the basis that offer information statements are rarely used. Submissions on Consultation Paper CS 45 are due by 5pm AEDT on 27 February 2026. ASIC notes the four instruments form part of the draft proposed instrument consolidation in Attachment B to Report 813 and expects to provide an update later in 2026.