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Regulation

Regulation
Jefferies faces SEC probe over First Brands ties
The relationship between Jefferies and First Brands is drawing fresh scrutiny, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) beginning an early-stage inquiry into the investment bank’s dealings with the now-bankrupt car parts group. According to people familiar with the matter, the regulator has asked Jefferies for details on whether investors in its Point Bonita fund were given a clear picture of their exposures to First Brands. The auto parts business entered bankruptcy in September with around $12 billion in debt, undermining confidence in parts of the private credit market. The U.S. securities watchdog is also examining the bank’s internal controls and whether any conflicts may have arisen across different areas of its business. At this stage, the watchdog has not suggested any wrongdoing, and it often opens civil reviews simply to gather information. As usual, the agency said it would not comment on whether an investigation exists, and Jefferies likewise declined to comment. Jefferies had long been involved with First Brands, advising the company, arranging invoice financing and helping to place large loans with outside investors. The Point Bonita fund held around $715 million in rec
Regulation
APRA introduces first risky home loan cap
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has fired a shot across the bows of the nation’s banks in an effort to prevent risky lending in the residential property market. The nation’s banking regulator said it would impose new limits on high debt-to-income (DTI) home lending to pre-emptively contain a build-up of “housing-related vulnerabilities” in the financial system. This is the first time APRA has formally limited the share of loans above a specific debt-to-income threshold, previously having monitored them only. From 1 February 2026, authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) will be allowed to lend up to 20% of their new mortgage lending for owner-occupier and investor lending at a debt of six times income or more, but this excludes bridging loans for owner-occupiers and loans for the purchase or construction of new dwellings. APRA said that although overall bank lending standards remained sound, it had seen a pick-up in riskier forms of lending in recent months as interest rates fell, housing credit growth passed its longer-term average, and housing prices continued to rise. It said that combined with a resilient labour market, these trends suggested a shift in the financial risk cycle and a p
Regulation
Australia unveils AI safety watchdog for frontier tech
The Australian federal government has formally stepped into the algorithmic ring, greenlighting the Australian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI) to reign in the "wild west" of frontier AI model development. Slated to go live in early 2026, the new technocratic overseer will act as the nation's primary circuit-breaker for generative AI. It's tasked with stress-testing high-risk large language models (LLMs) and steering policy on synthetic media deepfakes, alignment drift, and automated decision-making. Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic confirmed the institute would act as a "central hub" for the government's safe and responsible AI agenda - a program already bolstered by a $39.9 million funding package allocated in the 2024-25 Federal Budget. "Australians understand the value of artificial intelligence, but they want to see the risks identified and tackled," Husic said in a statement. “We want safe and responsible thinking baked in early as AI is designed, developed and deployed.”The "playbook" and the perilThe regulatory push isn't happening in a vacuum. Alongside the watchdog, Canberra has dropped a tactical guide for corporate Australia: the new Guidance for AI Adoption, which condenses prev
Regulation
New AI playbook arrives amid mounting lawsuits
The Australian federal government has released fresh guidance on AI adoption in the workplace, giving businesses a clearer roadmap for responsible implementation at a time when companies globally are facing a wave of litigation over algorithmic hiring tools. But will they work? The National AI Centre's Guidance for AI Adoption condenses the previous 10 voluntary guardrails into six essential practices, replacing the 2024 Voluntary AI Safety Standard with a dual-structured approach - foundational advice for companies starting out and detailed implementation practices for mature operators. “To help businesses put responsible AI into action, the guidance provides practical tools and templates, such as an AI policy template and an AI register template,” says the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The framework responds to findings from the 2025 Responsible AI Index, which revealed a persistent gap between organisations that agree with ethical AI standards and those actually putting them into practice, with smaller businesses struggling particularly with resource-intensive governance requirements, according to analysis by Allens.Adoption patchy despite the hypeA Reserve Bank survey released this week found enter
Regulation
Trump finds few fans for corporate reporting change
It has been labelled “useless or misleading information”, which encourages short-term decision-making. Although part of the corporate furniture in the United States since 1970, quarterly reporting stirs up mixed emotions but it has been pulled back into the spotlight by United States President Donald Trump calling for its demise. “Subject to SEC Approval, Companies and Corporations should no longer be forced to ‘Report’ on a quarterly basis (Quarterly Reporting!), but rather to Report on a ‘Six (6) Month Basis,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform in September. “This will save money, and allow managers to focus on properly running their companies.” Trump was highlighting an issue he first raised in 2018 when he tasked the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with considering changing the requirement for firms to report every three months. "In speaking with some of the world's top business leaders I asked what it is that would make business (jobs) even better in the US. 'Stop quarterly reporting & go to a six month system,' said one", he wrote in a post on Twitter. Trump said he asked for the change to be considered by the SEC, which, in response, called in a press release for comments on th

Regulation
FAA loosens its grip on Boeing production
Boeing has reportedly been cleared to increase production of its 737 MAX jets less than a year after a frightening safety incident during a flight. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Boeing approval to raise monthly production of the jets from 38 to 42, according to media reports. News organisations cited a statement in which the FAA, the U.S. national aviation agency, said its safety inspectors had conducted extensive reviews of Boeing’s production lines to ensure output could be lifted safely. “Our team has followed a disciplined rate readiness process guided by our safety management system and tracked by key performance indicators that were agreed upon with the FAA,” Boeing said in a statement. “We remain committed to implementing our Safety & quality Plan and working with our suppliers to increase production in a disciplined manner.” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford informed Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg of the decision on Friday. The FAA imposed a production cap shortly after a mid-air emergency in 2024 when a large hole opened in the fuselage of a new Alaska Airlines aircraft because a door plug was missing four key bolts. The agency said it would continue to closely monitor the ma
Regulation
ACCC switches tactics to shock solar, battery sellers
Australia's electricity watchdog is flexing its muscle as federal battery subsidies trigger unprecedented demand, warning installers and retailers that dodgy sales tactics won't fly in the nation's fastest-growing energy market. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) fired a shot across the bow of battery and solar suppliers Tuesday, declaring it would closely monitor sales practices as government subsidies drive household battery installations to record levels. ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey's warning comes as the federal government's $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program slashes 30% off battery costs, creating what industry analysts describe as a once-in-a-decade opportunity for market share grabs. Australia recorded 72,500 residential battery installations in 2024 - a whopping 27% jump from the previous year - with 2025 projected to smash records again as the subsidies take full effect.Bill savings drive the stampedeACCC data reveals homes with solar and batteries pay $936 annually for electricity, compared to $1,565 for grid-only customers - a 40% saving. But the real standout performers are virtual power plant customers, who slash their bills to just $580 per year, banking nearly $1,000 in
Regulation
Alleged power market rigging sparks legal action
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is suing the operator of a power station for allegedly manipulating the market for electricity futures contracts. ASIC is taking action in the Federal Court of Australia against Delta Power & Energy (Vales Point) Pty Ltd, formerly named Sunset Power International Pty Ltd, which is owned by Czech-based energy group Sev.en Global Investments. The market regulator has alleged that on 30 occasions between 8 September and 6 October 2022 Delta placed orders for New South Wales Peak Load Electricity Futures Contracts shortly before the close of the Australian Securities Exchange’s ASX 24 derivatives market for the improper purpose of affecting the daily settlement price. ASIC alleges this:created a false or misleading appearance that Delta’s purpose was to purchase the quarterly futures contracts at the lowest realisable pricecreated a false or misleading appearance that the daily settlement price for the contracts (and the daily settlement price for the corresponding calendar year ‘strip’ products) reflect the forces of genuine supply and demand in an open, informed and efficient market, andinfluenced the level at which the daily settlement price of the contracts was
Regulation
Optus agrees to $100m fine for unacceptable behaviour
Australia’s second largest telecommunications provider Optus has agreed to pay a $100 million (US$64.9 million) fine after selling phones and contracts to vulnerable and disadvantaged people including indigenous Australians. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the Singapore Telecommunications subsidiary had admitted to engaging in unconscionable conduct with more than 400 consumers at 16 stores between August 2019 and July 2023. The ACCC said in many instances the consumers did not want or need, could not use or could not afford what they were sold, and in some cases they were pursued for debts. Many were vulnerable or disadvantaged, living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, financially dependent or unemployed, had limited financial literacy or poor English, or were First Nations people from regional and remote areas. “The conduct, which included selling inappropriate, unwanted or unaffordable mobiles and phone plans to people who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage is simply unacceptable,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said in a media release. The competition took the legal action against Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) in the Federal