Corporate watchdog ASIC has revealed its 2026 enforcement priorities, saying it will protect consumers from financial harm, with investigations into the $1b-plus Shield and First Guardian collapses leading its crackdown.
Private credit practices, financial reporting misconduct, insurance complaints and claims handling, and misleading pricing are among a range of enforcement priorities for 2026.
ASIC deputy chair Sarah Court says they have been designed to protect consumers from financial harm and uphold the integrity of Australia’s financial markets.
“We’re doing more investigations, taking more matters to court and securing record penalties,” she said.
Ms Court said, over the past year, ASIC had doubled the number of new investigations and almost doubled the number of matters filed in court.
“We’ve also worked hard to increase our criminal prosecutions, and seen lengthy sentences imposed for financial fraud offences,” she said.
In 2026, she said, ASIC’s enforcement priorities would be:
• Misleading pricing practices affecting cost of living for Australians
• Poor private credit practices
• Financial reporting misconduct, including failure to lodge financial reports
• Claims and complaint handling failures by insurers
• Hold those responsible to account for the collapse of the Shield and First Guardian master funds
“ASIC will zero in on misleading pricing practices in the financial services sector, particularly those that make everyday costs harder for Australians,” she said.