Australian Update - Resistance to Australian Securities Exchange Corporate Governance Council’s Diversity Reforms Signals Decline in Environment, Social and Governance Commitment - The recent decision by the Australian...more
4/15/2025
/ Australia ,
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Commission ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Paris Agreement ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sustainability
Australian Update - ASIC's Key Issues Outlook for 2025 - On 24 January 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released its key issues outlook for 2025 which provides insights for Australian...more
3/26/2025
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenwashing ,
Investment ,
Manufacturers ,
Popular ,
Renewable Energy ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Australian - Update Mandatory Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Come Into Effect - The first phase of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth) (Bill) commenced on...more
2/24/2025
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Markets ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Modern Slavery Act ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
The Hon. Jim Chalmers MP, Federal Treasurer and the Hon. Clare O'Neil MP, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness issued a joint media release on 16 February 2025 titled "Albanese Government clamping down on foreign...more
Australian Update - Australia Commits AU$75 million to Singapore's FAST-P Clean Energy Transition Initiative - On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government approved an AU$75 million equity investment in the Singapore...more
12/27/2024
/ Australia ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Cyber Threats ,
Cybersecurity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Green Finance ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Singapore ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Tax Credits
Australian Update - Appointment of the Inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner - On 11 November 2023, the Attorney-General announced the appointment of Chris Evans as the inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner...more
12/16/2024
/ Annual Reports ,
Anti-Slavery Commissioner ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
ASIC ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Licensees ,
Popular ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance
On 25 September 2024, the Federal Court ordered a large superannuation trustee (Trustee) to pay the highest penalty imposed for greenwashing conduct yet–AU$12.9 million. This comes off the back of the Federal Court in early...more
Australian Update - Climate-Related Disclosures Legislation Passed - The Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth) passed Parliament on 9 September 2024 and received Royal...more
10/4/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
We continue to be asked to explain how it is even possible that some leases can be ‘destroyed’ simply because the land being leased is sold. So, it is timely we revisit and explain this lease ‘destruction’ risk and how you...more
Australian Update - Guide to Sustainable Collaborations – ACCC - On 8 July 2024, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) published a draft guide on Sustainability collaborations and Australian competition law...more
Bank guarantees (BGs) are a very old invention yet remain one of the most common forms of security that are provided in respect of leasing and other property transactions. Despite their prevalence, there are a number of risks...more
Australian Update - Proposed Code of Practice to Reduce Modern Slavery Through Lending, Investment and Asset Management - The New South Wales (NSW) Anti-Slavery Commissioner (Commissioner) recently released its discussion...more
8/20/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Anti-Slavery Commissioner ,
ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Forced Labor ,
Greenwashing ,
Investors ,
Popular ,
Sustainable Finance
Australian Update - Australia and EU Enter Into Critical and Strategic Minerals Partnership - On 28 May 2024, Australia and the European Union (EU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a bilateral partnership to...more
7/5/2024
/ Amended Regulation ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Minerals ,
Natural Gas ,
Natural Resources ,
Oil & Gas ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance
On 27 March 2024, the Australian Government published the first reading draft of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (New Bill), which superseded the previous exposure...more
AUSTRALIAN UPDATE - Updated Bill to Introduce Climate-Related Financial Reporting Regime - Background - The Australian Government released the first reading draft of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market...more
5/29/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Markets ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Investors ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Australian Update - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Enforcement Priorities for 2024-2025 - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its enforcement and compliance priorities for...more
4/26/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Climate Change ,
Competition ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Bonds ,
Greenwashing ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Small Business ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Australia welcomes new business and foreign investment by providing a strong economy, a stable political environment and a skilled and talented workforce. Our comprehensive guide to Doing Business in Australia has been...more
4/19/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ,
Board of Directors ,
Business Development ,
Business Entities ,
Capital Gains Tax ,
Competition ,
Copyright ,
Corporate Governance ,
Data Breach ,
Data Privacy ,
Digital Assets ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
FinTech ,
Foreign Corporations ,
Foreign Investment ,
Foreign Ownership ,
Franchises ,
Franchisors ,
Immigration ,
Income Taxes ,
Insolvency ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Investment Funds ,
Investors ,
Joint Venture ,
Limited Partnerships ,
Modern Slavery Act ,
National Security ,
Notice Requirements ,
Partnerships ,
Patents ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Securities ,
Sole Proprietorship ,
Supply Chain ,
Tax Rates ,
Thin Capitalization ,
Trademarks ,
Trusts ,
Venture Capital
Australian Update - Australian Securities and Investments Commission Continues Greenwashing Enforcement Efforts - On 28 February 2024, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reported that an outsourced...more
4/2/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Greenwashing ,
Investment ,
Minerals ,
Misleading Statements ,
Natural Resources ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability
Australian Update - Draft Legislation – Climate-Related Financial Disclosures The Australian Government has released Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2024: Climate-related financial disclosure, which is draft legislation...more
3/1/2024
/ Anti-Slavery Commissioner ,
ASIC ,
Audits ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Popular ,
Sustainability
Introduction - Over 400 New South Wales (NSW) government entities, including government agencies, state owned corporations, and councils (collectively, Covered Entities) are required to conduct modern slavery due diligence...more
Australian Update - ASIC to Focus on Net Zero Statements and Targets - On 21-22 November 2023, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) hosted the ASIC Annual Forum, outlining: The progress and outcomes ASIC...more
12/27/2023
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Popular ,
Sustainable Finance
Australian Update - Draft Reporting Standards for Australian Climate-Related Disclosures - As previously reported by K&L Gates, the Australian Accounting Standards Board released its exposure draft of the Australian...more
11/27/2023
/ Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Green Bonds ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Investment ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Renewable Energy ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Australian Update - Warnings Issued About Active Investment Greenwashing As reported by the Australian Financial Review, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has warned that superannuation funds who justify...more
Companies will often make representations about modern slavery as part of their environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures. In this article, we consider whether potentially false or misleading claims about modern...more
Australian Update - Addressing Modern Slavery Risks in Renewable Energy Supply Chains - As the modern slavery risks in the supply chains of renewable energy producers and markets come into focus (ABC|GreenBiz), the office of...more