Policy Update — August #2

Written By Katrina Angelika

NEW CONSULTATIONS

Draft revised ASIC market integrity rules

ASIC is consulting on proposed revisions to the market integrity rules for securities and futures markets. The amendments aim to update trading system obligations, improve the consistency between securities and futures markets, and reduce the complexity of the rules.

Consultations close on 22 October 2025. FinTech Australia will gauge member interest. Please contact our Policy Team if you wish to provide feedback.

Climate-related Transition Planning Guidance

Treasury is consulting on draft voluntary guidance to support best practice transition planning (ie strategic plans for identifying and responding to climate-related risks and opportunities).

Consultations close on 24 September 2025. FinTech Australia will gauge member interest. Please contact our Policy Team if you wish to provide feedback.

Minor updates to the prudential and reporting framework

APRA is consulting on proposed minor amendments to the prudential and reporting framework for authorised deposit taking institutions, insurers and registrable superannuation entity licensees.

Consultations close on 22 September 2025. FinTech Australia does not intend to make a submission.

OTHER NEWS

  • The Treasurer’s Economic Reform Roundtable concluded last week. The Treasurer identified ten key areas of consensus, including prioritising artificial intelligence (including by accelerating the National AI Capability Plan and developing a public service AI plan), attracting capital and deploying investment, cutting red tape, and developing a better tax system;

  • ASIC has released its 2025-26 corporate plan, which flags focus areas including combatting scams, cyber resilience, use of artificial intelligence and tokenisation;

  • APRA has released its 2025-26 corporate plan, with policy priorities including simplifying bank licensing, introducing a third tier to its framework for banks, supervising compliance with the operational risk standard CPS 230, and strengthening regulated industries’ cyber resilience;

  • ASIC has issued an enforcement and regulatory update on its work in the first half of 2025, flagging increased planned scrutiny of banks, insurance companies and superannuation trustees; and

  • AUSTRAC is asking users of AUSTRAC Online to participate in a digital experience survey to improve the platform. Users are asked to provide responses by 10 September.

WE ARE WORKING ON SUBMISSIONS FOR THESE CONSULTATIONS

  1. RBA Consultation – Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging;

  2. Productivity Commission - Harnessing data and digital technology; and

  3. Cyber Security Strategy – Horizon 2 Policy Discussion Paper.

WE RECENTLY MADE SUBMISSIONS TO

  1. Treasury's Compensation Scheme of Last Resort special levy consultation;

  2. ACCC's unsolicited Selling and Lead Generation Review; and

  3. The Treasurer's Economic Reform Roundtable.

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.

Katrina Angelika
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Policy Update - February #2