ASIC increases surveillance efforts

ASIC tabled its annual report to parliament this week, revealing it had completed 1441 "high-intensity" surveillance projects in the 12 months to 30 June 2016.

As a result of its surveillance efforts, ASIC completed 175 investigations and secured 22 convictions. Thirteen people were jailed due to ASIC's criminal prosecutions in 2015-2016.

ASIC also secured $210.5 million in compensation and remediation for investors and consumers, said the report.

The regulator accepted 22 enforceable actions in 2015-2016, and issued 109 infringement notices (the dollar value of which was $2.3 million).

ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft described 2015-2016 as a period of "significant achievement" for the regulator.

"ASIC is a law enforcement agency. We devote around 70 per cent of our regulatory resources to surveillance and enforcement," Mr Medcraft said.

"Importantly, where we detect instances of the law being broken, we make best use of our resources and powers to ensure there are meaningful consequences."

[Related: Aussie welcomes ASIC action against broker]

Written by Tim Stewart

Last Updated: 09 March 2022

Published: 03 November 2016

James Mitchell

AUTHOR

James Mitchell has over eight years’ experience as a financial reporter and is the editor of Wealth and Wellness at Momentum Media.

He has a sound pedigree to cover the business of mortgages and the converging financial services sector having reported for leading finance titles InvestorDaily, InvestorWeekly, Accountants Daily, ifa, Mortgage Business, Residential Property Manager, Real Estate Business, SMSF Adviser, Smart Property Investment, and The Adviser.

He has also been published in The Daily Telegraph and contributed online to FST Media and Mergermarket, part of the Financial Times Group.

James holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and an MA in Journalism.

 

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