ASIC Class Order [CO 04/1624]

Legislation au C2010L00001 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Corporations Act 2001 - Subsection 341(1) - Variation

 

Under subsection 341(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission varies Class Order [CO 98/1418] as follows:

 

1. in subparagraph (f)(i)(C) after "paragraph 39)" insert "(for reporting periods commencing before 1 January 2005) or AASB 127 "Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements" (except paragraphs 40 and Aus40.1) (for reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2005)";

 

2. in the Schedule;

 

(a) in the introductory words of the first paragraph omit "The", substitute "For reporting periods commencing before 1 January 2005, the"; and

 

(b) omit the second paragraph, substitute:

"For reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2005, the following information for the Relevant Financial Year with comparative information for the immediately preceding financial year:

(i) An Income Statement setting out the information specified by paragraphs 81 to 85 of accounting standard AASB 101 "Presentation of Financial Statements" ("AASB 101");

(ii) Opening and closing retained earnings, dividends provided for or paid, and transfers to and from reserves; and

(iii) A Balance Sheet complying with paragraphs 68 to 73 of AASB 101, except that if the entities concerned are, or comprise, an entity to which AASB 130 "Disclosures in the Financial Statements of Banks and Similar Financial Institutions" applies, the information specified by paragraphs 18 and 19 of AASB 130 may be provided instead of that specified by AASB 101."; and

 

3. under the heading "Interpretation":

 

(a) in the definition of "Certificate" omit paragraphs (a) to (e), substitute:

"(a) that the Deed is in exactly the same terms as ASIC Pro Forma 24 or 27 as the case requires except for the following:

(i) all instructions for the inclusion of specified information have been replaced by that information in a complete and accurate manner and any consequential changes of a minor or editorial nature that are necessary for the effective operation of the deed have been made;

(ii) execution clauses have been added, deleted, modified or varied as required in order to facilitate the proper execution of the deed;

(iii)            the date has been completed;

(iv)             the headnote, the headings before the headnote and any editorial note have been omitted;

(v)               in the case of an Assumption Deed which covers more than one Entity - such variations as are necessary to enable the additional entities to be covered;

(vi)             in the case of an Assumption Deed which covers making the trustee of the Deed of Cross Guarantee to which the Assumption Deed relates a member of the Closed Group – such variations as are necessary to enable the Assumption Deed to have that effect;

(b) that the provider of the certificate, after having made such inquiries as were reasonable in the circumstances, is of the opinion that the Deed:

(i) has been properly executed by the parties to it; and

(ii)               is binding on, and enforceable against, the parties to it in accordance with its terms;

 

(c) that the Entity has satisfied all of its obligations under subsections 319(1) and (3) of the Act in relation to the 3 financial years before the first financial year for which the Entity seeks to take advantage of relief under this order; and

(d) that none of the auditor's reports covered by paragraph (c) are qualified;

where:

(e) the certificates referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) are given by a lawyer who holds a practising certificate; and

(f) the certificates referred to in paragraphs (c) and (d) are given either by such a lawyer or a registered company auditor;"; and

 

(b) in the definition of "Control" omit "Accounts";" substitute "Accounts

(for reporting periods commencing before 1 January 2005) or AASB 127 "Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements" (for reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2005);".

 

 

Dated this 23rd day of December 2004

 

 

 

 

Signed by Brendan Byrne

as a delegate of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Overview

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission Corporations Act 2001 is a fundamental piece of legislation enacted by the Parliament of Australia to regulate and oversee corporate activities, ensuring transparency, accountability, and investor protection within the Australian corporate landscape. This Act was introduced to address various issues related to corporate governance, financial reporting, and the protection of stakeholders, including investors, employees, and creditors. One of the key policy objectives of this Act is to maintain a fair and efficient market by providing a robust framework for corporate disclosure and accountability. The Act has been amended and supplemented over the years to adapt to evolving business practices and to respond to emerging challenges in the corporate environment. This legislative instrument, C2010L00001, further refines certain aspects of the Class Order [CO 98/1418] to align with updated accounting standards and reporting requirements, thereby enhancing the clarity and effectiveness of financial disclosures.

Scope and Application

The Corporations Act 2001, as amended by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, encompasses a broad range of entities and individuals, including companies, limited partnerships, trustees of registered schemes, and liquidators. It extends to all forms of corporate and financial conduct within Australia, including transactions and operations conducted by Australian entities overseas. The legislation applies to financial reporting for periods commencing both before and after 1 January 2005, with specific changes tailored to the adoption of new accounting standards such as AASB 101 "Presentation of Financial Statements" and AASB 127 "Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements". Notably, the Act imposes financial reporting requirements on entities, including the preparation of an income statement, balance sheet, and disclosures on retained earnings and dividends. Exemptions and specific variations are permitted under the Class Order, subject to compliance with the detailed requirements for certificates provided by legal practitioners or registered auditors. The geographic reach of this Act is national, as it governs corporate and financial activities across all states and territories of Australia.

Key Provisions

Under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Corporations Act 2001, specifically subsection 341(1), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has varied Class Order [CO 98/1418] to update the requirements for financial reporting by certain entities. Section (1) of the variation modifies subparagraph (f)(i)(C) to specify that for reporting periods commencing before 1 January 2005, entities must adhere to paragraph 39, while for those commencing on or after 1 January 2005, they must comply with AASB 127 "Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements" with the exception of paragraphs 40 and Aus40.1. Additionally, the Schedule's introductory words have been adjusted to specify that the requirements apply differently depending on the commencement of the reporting period, with the second paragraph being omitted and replaced with new stipulations. The obligations imposed by this variation require entities to prepare an Income Statement as per paragraphs 81 to 85 of AASB 101, disclose opening and closing retained earnings, dividends provided for or paid, and transfers to and from reserves, and present a Balance Sheet in accordance with paragraphs 68 to 73 of AASB 101. If the entities fall under the scope of AASB 130, they may alternatively provide the information specified by paragraphs 18 and 19 of AASB 130. Furthermore, the definition of "Certificate" has been revised to include specific criteria that the Deed must meet and the conditions under which the certificates must be provided by a lawyer or a registered company auditor. The definition of "Control" has also been updated to reflect the changes in financial reporting standards. The variation introduces several potential consequences for non-compliance. Firstly, entities failing to adhere to the specified financial reporting requirements risk facing civil penalties as stipulated by the Corporations Act 2001. Additionally, directors or officers of the entities may be held personally liable for breaches, particularly if they fail to ensure that the required financial statements and certificates are correctly prepared and submitted. The maximum penalties for such breaches can include fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment, depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance.

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Corporate Law & Governance
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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.