The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the regulatory body responsible for enforcing and administering the laws that govern Australia’s financial markets and financial services providers. ASIC was established under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and is an independent Commonwealth government body.
ASIC’s role is to ensure that Australia’s financial markets operate fairly and transparently, and that consumers are protected from misconduct by financial services providers. Some of ASIC’s key responsibilities include:
– Regulating and supervising companies, financial markets, and financial services providers in Australia.
– Investigating and taking enforcement action against misconduct in financial markets and by financial services providers.
– Providing education and guidance to consumers about financial matters.
– Maintaining public registers of information about companies, businesses, and individuals involved in financial markets and services.
ASIC works closely with other regulatory bodies in Australia, such as the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), to ensure a coordinated and effective regulatory environment for financial services in Australia.
