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Regulatory

ATO bares teeth at dentists pushing early super access

JAMIE WILLIAMSON  |  TUESDAY, 26 AUG 2025
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has warned of an increase in "dodgy advice" about accessing superannuation savings for non-critical medical procedures, like cosmetic dental work.

Equity Trustees sued over Shield Master Fund failures

ELIZA BAVIN  |  TUESDAY, 26 AUG 2025
ASIC has launched civil proceedings against the superannuation trustee after it oversaw the investment of around $160 million into Shield Master Fund.

Former adviser back in Australia to face theft charges

JAMIE WILLIAMSON  |  MONDAY, 25 AUG 2025
A former financial adviser accused of stealing millions from clients will finally face court after being extradited back to Australia from New Zealand.

Binance under microscope over loose controls

MATTHEW WAI  |  MONDAY, 25 AUG 2025
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) directed Binance Australia to appoint an external auditor after "serious concerns" were identified from its independent review.

ASIC freezes assets of First Mutual Private Equity

MATTHEW WAI  |  FRIDAY, 22 AUG 2025
The Federal Court imposed urgent interim orders to freeze the assets of First Mutual Private Equity (FMPE) and its sole director Gregory Raymond Cotton, with ASIC concerned more than $50 million of investor funds is at risk.

Anti-hawking exemption for advisers a 'silly carve out': SCA

MATTHEW WAI  |  THURSDAY, 21 AUG 2025
Super Consumers Australia (SCA) is calling on the government to alter anti-hawking legislation to ensure consistency between selling financial services and financial products.

ASIC warns of 'sharp rise' in financial misconduct

MATTHEW WAI  |  THURSDAY, 21 AUG 2025
New data shows a significant rise in the number of misconduct reports made to ASIC, with more than half of the complaints impacting retail investors.

Adviser banned for UGC, Shield involvement

MATTHEW WAI  |  TUESDAY, 19 AUG 2025
A Gold Coast-based financial adviser has been banned for four years for failing to act in clients' best interests by pushing them to invest in the Global Capital Property Fund (GCPF) and Pivotal Diversified Fund.

Mercer Super sued over 'longstanding and systemic' failures

JAMIE WILLIAMSON  |  THURSDAY, 14 AUG 2025
Mercer Super allegedly failed to report seven investigations it undertook into serious member services failures, including one into premiums charged to dead members being refunded incorrectly.

NAB fined over $15m for delaying hardship applications

MATTHEW WAI  |  THURSDAY, 14 AUG 2025
The Federal Court has ordered National Australia Bank (NAB) and its subsidiary ASFH Nominees to pay a pecuniary penalty of $15.5 million for failing to respond to customers facing hardship.