ASIC sets out how it will be easier to deal with for businesses trying to comply with the law, and harder to avoid for those causing harm, in its new Corporate Plan released today.
The Corporate Plan 2026–27 outlines ASIC’s priorities for the year ahead, with a focus on protecting consumers and small businesses, supporting responsible innovation, reducing unnecessary regulatory burden and strengthening confidence in Australia’s financial system.
ASIC Chair Sarah Court said, ‘ASIC is responding to a financial system being reshaped by rapid technological change, evolving markets and continuing financial pressure on households and small businesses.
‘Strong regulation and economic growth are not opposing objectives,’ Ms Court said.
‘ASIC’s role is to act at the right time, address the right risks and create the conditions for Australians, businesses and markets to have confidence in the financial system.
‘That means reducing unnecessary friction for those trying to comply, while making it harder for those causing harm to avoid scrutiny and accountability.’
‘Clear expectations, effective processes and a level playing field give responsible businesses the confidence to invest and innovate. At the same time, effective supervision and enforcement protect consumers and ensure those who break the law are held to account.’
ASIC’s consumer protection work will focus on areas where harm can spread quickly or have lasting consequences, including scams and debt collection, and new work across insurance claims intermediaries in disaster-affected communities, buy now pay later and superannuation advice fee deductions.
ASIC will also lift its focus on artificial intelligence, including how banks use AI in customer-facing services, how AI may affect consumers and investors, and how AI-driven manipulation, deepfakes and misinformation could affect market integrity.
‘AI can improve services, productivity and decision making, but its use must not weaken accountability or consumer and investor protections,’ Ms Court said.
‘ASIC will examine how AI affects consumers, respond to its potential misuse in markets and build our own capability to identify misconduct earlier and act more decisively.’
The plan also commits ASIC to reducing unnecessary regulatory burden, including through simpler guidance and instruments, better digital services, more efficient licensing processes and closer coordination with other regulators on data collection.
‘We want responsible businesses to have greater certainty, clearer expectations and more efficient ways of dealing with ASIC,’ Ms Court said.
‘At the same time, we will continue to use our regulatory and enforcement powers to address serious misconduct, protect consumers and investors, and identify risks before harm becomes entrenched.’
ASIC will also strengthen its supervision of managed investment schemes, continue work to improve market integrity across public and private markets, support responsible digital finance and innovation, and build its own data, intelligence, AI and cyber capabilities.
‘This plan is about confidence, confidence that financial harm will be addressed, confidence the rules are clear and proportionate, and confidence misconduct will have consequences,’ Ms Court said.
