Australia: Financial Services

When a borrower defaults on a loan, does the lender have an immediate right to repossess property or force a sale? This article examines the negotiation options available to borrowers after loan default, the statutory protections under the National Credit Code, and the enforcement rights and obligations of lenders under Queensland's Property Law Act 2023.

The Unique Product Identifier (UPI) serves as a critical component of common data elements under EMIR, UK EMIR, ASIC, and MAS regulations, designed to identify OTC derivative products in transaction reporting. This article explores how UPIs work alongside Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) and examines the role of ANNA-DSB as the centralized service provider managing the UPI Reference Data Library. Understanding the methods for obtaining and creating UPIs is essential for firms navigating derivative transactio

The first half of calendar year 2026 represented a cautious six months for IPOs on ASX, amidst the background of geopolitical tensions and significant divergence between sectors.

Australia's High Court has delivered a landmark ruling in favour of ASIC against Block Earner, finding that crypto yield products fall within existing financial services laws. The decision endorses an expansive approach to financial product definitions and marks the first time the High Court has examined crypto-assets under financial services legislation. Meanwhile, ASIC has extended its no-action relief for digital asset businesses to 30 September 2026, and Australia's Travel Rule for virtual asset transfe

The High Court of Australia has delivered a landmark ruling in ASIC v Web3 Ventures Pty Ltd, finding that Block Earner's fixed-yield cryptocurrency product constitutes a financial product under the Corporations Act. This decision overturns the Full Federal Court's earlier judgment and marks the first time Australia's highest court has examined crypto-assets under financial services laws, with significant implications for how digital asset products are regulated.

In the early hours of 8 December 2019, on a rural property at St Mary near Tiaro in Queensland, Benjamin Freear (the deceased) moved between properties armed with a .303 rifle, firing at neighbours, vehicles and buildings, and telling others he expected to die.

On 7 April 2026, Treasury released a consultation paper seeking feedback on policy options to curb lead generation activity linked to financial products, with a view to better protecting consumers...

This week’s TGIF considers the recent decision of the Queensland Supreme Court in White Rook Pty Ltd v White Horizon Pty Ltd (No 2) [2026] QSC 86 where the Court applied proportionality principles and reduced a court-appointed receiver’s remuneration by 15%.

Australia's proposed capital gains tax reforms may inadvertently undermine government efforts to strengthen sovereign defence capability and innovation. As the nation faces increasing global instability and supply chain vulnerabilities, changes to the CGT regime could discourage investment in defence-focused startups precisely when such investment is most critical to national security objectives.