The Australian regulators weekly wrap is a weekly alerter which quickly sets out five noteworthy developments from the past week. It is designed to help you in keeping up to speed with what is happening in Australian financial services regulation.
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- UK / US data sharing (international):the US and UK have entered into theU.S.-UK Bilateral Data Access Agreement, which effectively gives law enforcement authorities from each of those countries the power to access data located outside their respective jurisdictions. For example, the US DOJ will have the power to access data directly from UK communication services providers (provided there is a courts approval.) It is designed to expedite serious criminal investigations e.g. anti-money laundering, fraud and corruption offences by allowing the enforcement agency to bypass government approvals under the usual mutual legal assistance treaty requests and go directly to the data holder. It is a major capability upgrade! The law does not deal with encryption though and there are various conditions, most notably that the data cannot be used to target residents of other countries. The reason that this development has poll position in this weeks update? Because Australia and the US have just announced in a joint statement they are working on abilateral treatyto give effect to the same arrangement:Underpinned by Australian legislation yet to be introduced, a bilateral CLOUD Act agreement would enable Australian law enforcement toserve domestic orders for communications data needed to combat serious crime directly on U.S.-based companies, and vice versa.(Emphasis added.)
- An ambitious agenda (APRA):Chairman Wayne Byrnes hasdelivered a speechto the Australian Banking Association outlining APRAs ambitious agenda as set out in its Corporate Plan for 201923 which you may recall had four key outcomes: 1) maintain financial resilience and stability; 2) improve member outcomes in superannuation; 3) transform governance, culture, remuneration and accountability in financial institutions; and 4) improve cyber resilience across the financial system. Mr. Byrnes focused on item 3, outlining that APRA planned to achieve its goal by strengthening the prudential framework through more prescriptive rules around remuneration, updates to CPS 510 Governance and CPS 520 Fit and Proper (and reviewing CPS 220 Risk Management) and working closely with the Treasury and ASIC to deliver on the Governments ambitious timetablefor BEAR including to encapsulate conduct-related matters as wellwithin that regime. (A statement which makes me suspect we will receive little consultation time again.) APRA also plans to expand its supervisory team focusing on this area to at least 20 individuals, invest in cutting edge regulatory tools e.g. natural language processing analytics and undertake new forms of reviews / investigations to focus on these particular areas e.g. self-assessments and partnering with external experts. Finally, it plans to share more of its insights publicly stating thatat the very least we foresee routinely making public reports on all thematic reviews and the risk governance self-assessments insights from our risk culture deep dives, and, wherever possible, reports from Prudential Inquiries and similar investigations.A big speech, and my top read for the week!
- Self-managed super funds (ASIC):ASIC has publicly called for SMSF investors to consider the downsides of the strategy. In particular, for those individuals who will have a low fund balances i.e. under $500K or who want a simple superannuation solution, particularly if they have a low level of financial literacy or limited time available to manage their affairs. To assist individuals in making their decision about whether to invest in an SMSF -as at 30 June 2019 there were 599,678 SMSFs in Australia holding nearly $748 billion in assets ASIC has developed quite an informative and user friendlyfact-sheet.
- Pre-insolvency advisers (ASIC):two pre-insolvency advisers havepleaded guilty to dealing in the proceeds of crimefollowing an ASIC investigation. In short, the advisers issued fictitious invoices through entities they controlled to a failing company, Cap Coast Telecoms, which duly paid the invoices to the the tune of $743,050. That sum was then transferred by the pre-insolvency advisers to the director of Cap Coast Telecoms or his associates. Cap Coast Telecoms was then wound up in insolvency leaving many creditors behind. The pre-insolvency advisers each pleading guilty to breaching 400.4(2) of theCriminal Code Act (Cth)1995, for intentionally dealing in proceedings of crime. The director is facing the same charge and 10 counts of breaching his directors duties. An action that has been welcomed by insolvency practitioners, it is worth remembering that phoenix activity of this nature is firmly in ASICs (not to mention the ATOs) sights for the next four years as set out on page 26 of itsCorporate Plan 201923.
- Financial adviser banned (ASIC): ASIC has banned a financial adviser for seven years following a review of his advice files because it found that he did not adequately investigate his clients superannuation and insurance arrangements (in some cases he recommended very high levels of insurance cover compared to his clients income), and instead used templated strategies. ASIC also found that the adviser, who has the right to appeal to the AAT for a review of decision, failed to provide statements of advice that were clear, concise and effective to all his clients. ASIC Commissioner Danielle Press said:Financial advisers providing personal advice are required by law to act in the best interests of their clients. ASICexpects advisers to take into account their clients personal circumstances, needs and financial goalsto ensure that the advice they provide is appropriate.(Emphasis added.)
- Bonus item:a US defamation claim brought by an employee whose company identified him as a significant and unacceptable compliance riskin connection with a US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation has failed. The US Seventh Circuit Court found The inability to prove the statement false demonstrates that it is a statement of opinion, beyond the reach of defamation law.A very interesting (and unusual) read!
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(These views are my own and do not constitute legal advice. Photo credit Tom Wheatley)
