FinTech Voice, October 23, 2025

Written By Katrina Angelika

Hi FinTech Australia Community,

We are looking forward to several events coming up in the next few weeks:

As you may have seen in the media, we have been pushing the government to explicitly include digital technology (e.g. fintech, AI, cybersecurity) as a national focus area in its review of Australia's R&D performance.

Kind regards,

Rehan D’Almeida,

Chief Executive Officer,

FinTech Australia

Policy Update

NEW CONSULTATIONS

Treasury exposure draft on PSP licensing

Treasury has released tranche 1(a) of draft legislation to implement a payment service providers licensing scheme, which captures stablecoins among other activities. 

This tranche of reforms will set the foundations for the new payments regulatory framework by:

  • requiring PSPs that perform certain functions to obtain an Australian Financial Services licence;

  • creating new APRA powers for major stored value facility (SVF) providers (including major tokenised SVF providers) and designated PSPs; and

  • establishing a rule-making power to enable introduction of a mandatory, revised ePayments code.

Consultations close on 6 November 2025. FinTech Australia intends to make a submission. Please contact our Policy Team if you wish to provide feedback.

Mandating cash acceptance

Treasury has released an exposure draft for reforms that mandate cash acceptance by grocery and fuel retailers via mandatory industry codes. An exemption for small businesses applies.

Consultations close on 31 October 2025. FinTech Australia does not intend to make a submission. Please contact our Policy Team if you wish to provide feedback.

Revisions to alternative reinsurance arrangements for general insurance

APRA has released a response paper setting out revisions to its proposed updates to the general insurance reinsurance framework. The changes are designed to facilitate easier access to reinsurance. 

Consultations close on 30 January 2026. FinTech Australia does not intend to make a submission. Please contact our Policy Team if you wish to provide feedback.

OTHER NEWS

  • All: Treasury has released its updated Regulatory Initiatives Grid, which sets out forecast policy and regulatory initiatives from Q4 2025 to Q3 2027. The grid captures policy initiatives from the Treasury as well as ASIC, APRA, ACCC, RBA, ATO, DSB, AUSTRAC and the AFSA. This is a very useful tool for forward planning and is updated twice yearly.

  • All: The Government has signalled that further policy work will commence on a beneficial ownership register from early 2027, while other enabling steps are actioned first.

  • AML/CTF: AUSTRAC has released new guidance to help current and future reporting entities comply with changes to AML/CTF laws.

  • Payday superannuation: On 9 October the Government introduced legislation to require superannuation to be paid on their employees’ payday. If passed, this will take effect from 1 July 2026.

  • ASIC: ASIC’s newly released 2024-25 annual report indicates the regulator has significantly increased its focus on investigations, targeted surveillances and civil enforcement proceedings.

  • AFSL-holders: An ASIC review of AFSL-holders using offshore service providers has found significant inconsistencies in the quality of risk management arrangements (the review focused on responsible entities and financial advice licensees). ASIC is taking this opportunity to remind AFSL-holders that they can outsource services but cannot outsources their legal responsibilities.

  • Auditing: ASIC has updated Regulatory Guide 260 Communicating findings from audit files to directors, audit committees or senior managers (RG 260) to reflect amendments to ASIC’s powers with respect to registrable superannuation entities and their trustees.

  • Mergers: The Government has announced it will refine notification requirements under the new mergers regime by expanding existing exemptions for financial market activities, exempting most leases, simplifying asset acquisition thresholds, streamline serial acquisitions by altering notification obligations.

  • Lending: ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland has flagged that the regulator is currently focusing on ensuring lenders, mortgage brokers, credit repair and debt collection companies are complying with consumer credit protections.

  • Insurance: ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland has flagged that in the next year ASIC will (1) examine the accuracy and transparency of premiums, especially the communication of car insurance premiums to consumers; and (2) the adequacy of cash settlement offers across the industry.

  • Cyber: The Australian Signals Directorate has released guidance for the protection of critical infrastructure against state-sponsored cyber actors. 

  • Cyber: The Australian Signals Directorate has released its Annual Cyber Threat Report. The ASD recommends businesses: (1) implement best-practice logging; (2) replace legacy technology; (3) manage third-party risk; and (4) prepare for post-quantum cryptography.

  • Cyber: The Australian Cyber Security Centre has released advice on how to manage shared responsibility for cybersecurity when dealing with cloud service providers. Advice is available for: (1) individuals, small and medium-sized businesses; and (2) executives in government, critical infrastructure and large organisations.

  • Artificial intelligence: The Digital Transformation Agency has released guidance for Federal Government employees on the safe and responsible use of AI tools.

  • IPOs: ASIC has approved an application by Cboe Australia to enable Cboe to list new companies, in direct competition with the ASX, NSX and SSX. 

SENATE ESTIMATES TRANSCRIPTS

The Senate Economics Committee recently held Estimates hearings for the:

  • Treasury, ASIC, ACCC, APRA, ABS, ATO and other regulators (9 October); and

  • RBA and Productivity Commission (10 October).

WE ARE WORKING ON SUBMISSIONS TO THESE CONSULTATIONS

  1. Treasury’s exposure draft on payment service provider licensing;

  2. Treasury's exposure draft on digital asset & tokenised custody platforms licensing; and

  3. ASIC’s regulatory simplification project.

WE RECENTLY MADE SUBMISSIONS TO THESE CONSULTATIONS

  1. Treasury’s targeted consultation on changes to the CDR (public release pending);

  2. Department of Industry, Science and Resources issues papers connected to the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (with the assistance of our policy partner, DLA Piper);

  3. RBA Consultation – Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging (with the assistance of our policy partner, K&L Gates); and

  4. Productivity Commission - Harnessing data and digital technology (with the assistance of our policy partner, Ashurst).

See other FinTech Australia submissions on our website.

Members interested in contributing any of the submissions should reach out to our Policy Team.

FinTech Australia regularly makes submissions to consultations across a wide range of policy and regulatory issues. Communications about how to get involved in these processes are distributed to our Policy Working Group membership. If you would like to be added to a distribution list for this, please contact our Policy Team.

Upcoming Events

Save the dates for our events in 2026! 

Mark your calendars and reach out to the team if you have any enquiries or would like to support any of these events.

  • Intersekt 2026 — 3 & 4 September 2026 at The Crown Promenade Melbourne

Community Events

International Events

Are you looking to expand into and explore the markets of US or Singapore? Access discounted tickets to these international fintech events!

International Programs

 Opportunities from the community

For all events and opportunities from the community, click here.

Community Updates

Don’t miss all the news and insights from our members and corporate partners from our newsroom.

  • SISS Data Services appoints John Dunkerley as Chief Commercial Officer to expand the ACSISS brand’s market presence in open banking. Read More.

  • Monoova named Company of the Year at the Global FinTech Awards 2025. Read More.

  • Swyftx inks naming rights partnership with Rugby Australia. Read More.

  • EzyRemit’s Empower Your Mind, Define Your Future: Community Leaders Inspire the Next Generation. Read More.

  • SISS Data Services' proposal to exempt smaller banks from open banking will reduce accountants’ access to financial data for advice, audits and taxes. Read More.

  • MONEYME expands Autopay to private car sales market. Read More.

  • OKX expands USDG rewards program, offering Australians up to 4.1% yields amid rising USD strength. Read More.

For more news from the community, see here.

New Members

Let's welcome FinTech Australia's new members! 🎉

Billie Loans

Our Leg Up

Katrina Angelika
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