ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2016L00203 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT for

ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66

Prepared by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

 

Corporations Act 2001

 

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) makes ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66 (the Repeal Instrument).

The Repeal Instrument will have the effect of repealing the following ASIC Class Orders:

  • [CO 04/1574] – Application form and cooling-off relief for certain transfers of members between financial products and interests within a superannuation fund ([CO 04/1574]);
  • [CO 06/636] - Superannuation: Delivery of product disclosure for investment strategies ([CO 06/636]); and
  • [CO 02/968] - Interim relief from financial reporting obligations for companies in external administration ([CO 02/968])

The Repeal Instrument is made under subsections 341(1) and 1020F(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (the Act).

Subsection 341(1) of the Act provides that ASIC may make an order in writing that exempts a specified class of companies, registered schemes or disclosing entities from all or specified provisions of Parts 2M.2, 2M.3 and 2M.4 (other than Division 4) of the Act.

Subsection 1020F(1) of the Act provides that ASIC may:

(a) exempt a person or class of persons from all or specified provisions of Part 7.9 of the Act;

(b) exempt a financial product or a class of financial products from all or specified provisions of Part 7.9 of the Act; or

(c) declare that Part 7.9 of the Act applies in relation to a person or a financial product, or a class of persons or financial products, as if specified provisions were omitted, modified or varied as specified in the declaration.

Under subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (as in force as at 1 January 2005 and as applicable to the relevant powers because of section 5C of the Act), where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

  1.                                             Background

[CO 04/1574] provides relief to the trustee of a superannuation fund from application form and cooling-off requirements under the Act in relation to an ‘intra-fund transfer’. An intra-fund transfer involves a change to the composition of a person’s membership within a fund, such as a transfer of member benefits within the same fund) that occurs without the consent of the members of the fund. In 2005, ASIC issued ASIC Class Order [CO 05/1270] – Operation of certain instruments ([CO 05/1270]) in order to overcome uncertainties about the legal effect of specific Class Orders, including [CO 04/1574], that resulted from the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (the LIA) coming into effect on 1 January 2005. [CO 05/1270] had the effect of granting the relief that was set out in particular Class Orders, including [CO 04/1574], subject to the terms of the Class Orders listed in [CO 05/1270].

Subparagraph 6(f) of [CO 05/1270] refers to [CO 04/1574]. As [CO 04/1574] was not registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments under the LIA, the operation of [CO 04/1574] will cease if the cross-reference in subparagraph 6(f) of [CO 05/1270] is omitted.

Due to the operation of [CO 05/1270], the relief set out in [CO 04/1574] is due to lapse, or to ‘sunset’, under the LIA on 1 April 2016. After considering feedback received in response to ASIC Consultation Paper 232 – Remaking ASIC Class Orders on superannuation: [CO 04/1574] and [CO 06/636] (CP 232), ASIC will continue the substantive effect of the relief set out in [CO 04/1574], subject to some minor and technical changes, in a new legislative instrument. As a result, it is unnecessary to retain subparagraph 6(f) of [CO 05/1270] in order to give effect to the relief detailed in [CO 04/1574].

[CO 06/636] grants relief to the trustee of a superannuation fund to allow the trustee to rely on a modified form of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) requirements in Part 7.9 of the Act. This relief operates when a superannuation fund gives a member a choice of investment strategy under which an accessible financial product may be acquired. In this scenario, [CO 06/636] allows the superannuation trustee to choose one of three options to provide product disclosure information to a member.

Under the LIA, [CO 06/636] is due to sunset on 1 October 2016. After considering the responses received to CP 232, ASIC will issue a new instrument that continues the substance of the relief set out in [CO 06/636], subject to some non-substantive changes. Accordingly, [CO 06/636] serves no purpose and ought to be repealed.

Under Pt 2M.3 of the Act, disclosing entities, public companies and large proprietary companies must prepare, lodge and distribute to their members their annual accounts and certain reports. The law provides no automatic exemption to these requirements when a company is under any form of insolvency administration – the financial reporting obligations are imposed on the company. ASIC provided interim relief from these obligations in ASIC Class Order [CO 02/968] Interim relief from financial reporting obligations for companies in external administration ([CO 02/968]).

Under LIA, [CO 02/968] is due to lapse on 1 April 2017.  [CO 02/968] grants financial reporting relief, subject to conditions, for various forms of externally administered companies whose financial years and half-years ended on or before 31 May 2003. The interim relief required that companies relying on [CO 02/968] perform any financial reporting obligations for financial years or half-years that ended on or before 31 May 2003, by 1 September 2003 at the latest. Accordingly, [CO 02/968] no longer serves any purpose and ought to be repealed

2.                                                Purpose of the instrument

The purposes of the Repeal Instrument are to:

(a) amend ASIC Class Order [CO 05/1270], which gives legal effect to the terms of the relief set out in [CO 04/1574], in order to cease the operation of [CO 04/1574]; and

(b) repeal [CO 02/968] and [CO 06/636].

3.                                                Operation of the instrument

Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 of the instrument omits subparagraph 6(f) from [CO 05/1270], which refers to [CO 04/1574]. The effect of this change is to cease the legal effect of [CO 04/1574], effectively repealing [CO 04/1574].

Paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 of the instrument repeals [CO 02/968].

Paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 of the instrument repeals [CO 06/636].

4.                                                Consultation

In June 2005, ASIC issued CP 232 in relation to [CO 04/1574] and [CO 06/636]. After considering the feedback received in response to CP 232, ASIC will issue new legislative instruments that will continue the substantive effect of [CO 04/1574] and [CO 06/636], subject to non-substantive changes being made to the terms of the relief. As a result, [CO 04/1574] and [CO 06/636] no longer serve any purpose. The Repeal Instrument has been issued to cease the effect of both Class Orders.

In August 2014, ASIC issued CP 223 Relief for externally administered companies and registered schemes being wound up: RG 174 update (CP 223). ASIC consulted on issues relating to the financial reporting obligations of externally administered companies and registered schemes that are being wound up. The key points from the feedback received in submissions are set out in ASIC’s Report 434 – Response to submissions on CP 223: Relief for externally administered companies and registered schemes being wound up- RG 174 update. Financial reporting relief for various forms of externally administered companies and registered schemes being wound up is now provided, subject to conditions, under ASIC Corporations (Externally-Administered Bodies) Instrument 2015/251 or on a case-by-case basis. ASIC did not consult specifically on [CO 02/968] because it no longer serves any purpose. The Repeal Instrument has been issued to cease the effect of [CO 02/968].

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66

ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66 (the Repeal Instrument) is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview

The Repeal Instrument modifies ASIC Class Order [CO 05/1270] – Operation of certain instruments in order to cease the effect of ASIC Class Order [CO 04/1574] - Application form and cooling-off relief for certain transfers of members between financial products and interests within a superannuation fund ([CO 04/1574]). [CO 04/1574] provides relief to the trustee of a superannuation fund from application form and cooling-off requirements under Part 7.9 of Corporations 2001 (the Act) in relation to an ‘intra-fund transfer’. Under the LIA, [CO 04/1574] is due to lapse on 1 April 2016. The Repeal Instrument should cease the effect of [CO 04/1574], via modifying [CO 05/1270], because ASIC will issue a legislative instrument in February 2016 that will continue the substance of the terms of [CO 04/1574], subject to non-substantive changes.

The Repeal Instrument will repeal ASIC Class Order [CO 06/636] - Superannuation: Delivery of product disclosure for investment strategies ([CO 06/636]). [CO 06/636] grants relief to the trustee of a superannuation fund to allow the trustee to rely on a modified form of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) requirements in Part 7.9 of the Act. This relief operates when a superannuation fund gives a member a choice of investment strategy under which an accessible financial product may be acquired. Under the LIA, [CO 06/636] is due to lapse on 1 October 2016. The Repeal Instrument should repeal [CO 06/636] because ASIC will issue a legislative instrument in February 2016 that will continue the substantive effect of [CO 06/636], subject to non-substantive changes.

The Repeal Instrument will repeal ASIC Class Order [CO 02/968] Interim relief from financial reporting obligations for companies in external administration ([CO 02/968]). [CO 02/968] grants financial reporting relief, subject to conditions, for various forms of externally administered companies whose financial years and half-years ended on or before 31 May 2003. The interim relief required that companies relying on [CO 02/968] perform any financial reporting obligations for financial years or half-years that ended on or before 31 May 2003, by 1 September 2003 at the latest. Under the LIA, [CO 02/968] is due to lapse on 1 April 2017.  The Repeal Instrument should repeal [CO 02/968] because it no longer serves any purpose. Financial reporting relief for various forms of externally administered companies and registered schemes being wound up is now provided, subject to conditions, under ASIC Corporations (Externally-Administered Bodies) Instrument 2015/251 or on a case-by-case basis.   

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

 

Overview

The ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66, enacted to address the impending lapse of certain Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Class Orders under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, repeals three specific Class Orders that are no longer necessary. The first of these, ASIC Class Order [CO 04/1574], provided relief to the trustee of a superannuation fund from application form and cooling-off requirements for intra-fund transfers, a relief that ASIC intends to continue in a new legislative instrument. The second, [CO 06/636], allowed for modified Product Disclosure Statement requirements for superannuation fund investment strategies, which is also set to be continued in a new instrument. The third, [CO 02/968], granted interim financial reporting relief to companies in external administration, a function now performed by another instrument. The Repeal Instrument modifies and repeals these Class Orders to align with current regulatory frameworks and ensure that the reliefs they provided are effectively continued through new instruments.

Scope and Application

The ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66 is an instrument made by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under the Corporations Act 2001. This instrument is designed to repeal certain ASIC Class Orders that are due to lapse under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. The Class Orders affected are CO 04/1574, which provides relief to superannuation fund trustees from application form and cooling-off requirements for intra-fund transfers, CO 06/636, which grants relief to trustees regarding the delivery of product disclosure statements for investment strategies, and CO 02/968, which provides interim relief from financial reporting obligations for companies in external administration. The repeal of these Class Orders is necessary because new legislative instruments will replace them with updated provisions. This instrument applies nationally in Australia and affects trustees of superannuation funds, companies in external administration, and possibly financial product issuers and other entities as per the specific provisions of the repealed Class Orders. There are no stated exclusions or thresholds in the instrument itself, but the repealed Class Orders would have had their own conditions and scope. The instrument may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary to implement the changes and maintain regulatory consistency.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the ASIC Corporations (Amendment and Repeal) Instrument 2016/66 (the Repeal Instrument) involve the amendment and repeal of specific ASIC Class Orders. Section 1 of Schedule 1 amends ASIC Class Order [CO 05/1270] to cease the operation of ASIC Class Order [CO 04/1574], while Schedule 2 repeals ASIC Class Orders [CO 06/636] and [CO 02/968]. Section 341(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (the Act) empowers the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to exempt a specified class of companies, registered schemes, or disclosing entities from certain provisions of the Act, while subsection 1020F(1) allows ASIC to exempt persons or financial products from provisions of Part 7.9 of the Act. These provisions are crucial for understanding the scope and effect of the Repeal Instrument on the governed entities. The Repeal Instrument imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Firstly, by amending [CO 05/1270], the Repeal Instrument effectively repeals [CO 04/1574], which had provided relief to the trustee of a superannuation fund from application form and cooling-off requirements in relation to intra-fund transfers. Secondly, the Repeal Instrument repeals [CO 06/636], which had allowed trustees to rely on modified Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) requirements when giving members a choice of investment strategies. Lastly, the Repeal Instrument repeals [CO 02/968], which had provided interim relief from financial reporting obligations for companies in external administration. These repeals signify that the obligations previously outlined in these Class Orders are no longer in effect, and new instruments will replace them with updated terms. The Repeal Instrument does not create new offences or penalties, but it effectively ends the operation of the repealed Class Orders, meaning that entities previously subject to these orders are no longer bound by them. The Repeal Instrument's purpose is to ensure a smooth transition to new legislative instruments that will continue the substantive relief set out in [CO 04/1574] and [CO 06/636], subject to non-substantive changes. There are no civil or criminal consequences for breaching the repealed Class Orders, as they no longer have legal effect post-Repeal Instrument.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Corporate Law & Governance
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Repeal & Amendment
Regulatory Standards
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.