ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2022L01069 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716

made under paragraphs 926A(2)(c), 951B(1)(c), 992B(1)(c), 994L(2)(c) and 1020F(1)(c) of the Corporations Act 2001.

Compilation No. 1 

Compilation date: 1 August 2025

Includes amendments up to: ASIC Corporations (Amendment) Instrument 2025/456 [F2025L00891]

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 August 2025 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Name of legislative instrument...........................................4

3 Authority............................................................4

4 Definitions..........................................................4

Part 2—Declaration..................................................5

5 Meaning of retail and wholesale client.....................................5

Part 3—Repeal......................................................6

6 Repeal..............................................................6

Endnotes...........................................................7

Endnote 1—About the endnotes..............................................7

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key...............................................8

Endnote 3—Legislation history..............................................9

Endnote 4—Amendment history............................................10

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Name of legislative instrument

This is the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under paragraphs 926A(2)(c), 951B(1)(c), 992b(1)(c), 994L(2)(c) and 1020F(1)(c) of the Corporations Act 2001.

4 Definitions

In this instrument:

Act means the Corporations Act 2001.

Part 2—Declaration

5 Meaning of retail and wholesale client

Parts 7.6 (other than Divisions 4 and 8), 7.7, 7.8, 7.8A and 7.9 of the Act apply in relation to a general insurance product as if section 761G of the Act were modified or varied as follows:

(a) in paragraph (5)(b)(viii), omit “.”, substitute “; and”;

(b) after paragraph (5)(b), insert:

“(c) the general insurance product is not an incidental product.”;

(c) in subsection (12), before the definition of small business, insert:

incidental product means a general insurance product (first product) in relation to which all the following apply:

(a) the first product is provided under a contract of insurance that includes another general insurance product (wholesale product) that is provided to the person as a wholesale client;

Note: See subsection 764A(1A) in relation to contracts of insurance that provide a kind of cover and subsection 764A(1B) in relation to contracts of insurance that provide a kind of cover in relation to 2 or more kinds of assets.

(b) the first product is incidental to the wholesale product;

(c) the first product is included in the contract of insurance and there has been no separate decision or election in relation to the first product by the person acquiring the wholesale product;

(d) the issuer of the first product and of the wholesale product does not offer the first product as a standalone general insurance product on the same terms;

(e) no separate premium is payable by the person acquiring the wholesale product for inclusion of the first product in the contract of insurance.”.

 

Part 3—Repeal

6 Repeal

This instrument is repealed at the start of 16 August 2030.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

ad = added or inserted

orig = original

am = amended

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

amdt = amendment

/subsubparagraph(s)

c = clause(s)

pres = present

C[x] = Compilation No. x

prev = previous

Ch = Chapter(s)

(prev…) = previously

def = definition(s)

Pt = Part(s)

Dict = Dictionary

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

reloc = relocated

Div = Division(s)

renum = renumbered

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

rep = repealed

Effect

rs = repealed and substituted

F = Federal Register of Legislation

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

gaz = gazette

Sch = Schedule(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SR = Statutory Rules

cannot be given effect

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

mod = modified/modification

SubPt = Subpart(s)

No. = Number(s)

underlining = whole or part not

o = order(s)

commenced or to be commenced

Ord = Ordinance

 

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716 [F2022L01069]

15/08/2022

16/08/2022

 

ASIC Corporations (Amendment) Instrument 2025/456 [F2025L00891]

31/07/2025

01/08/2025

 

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Provision affected

How affected

Section 2

rep. s48D LA

Section 6

am. 2025/456

 

Overview

The ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716 was enacted to address the issue of incidental retail cover in general insurance products, ensuring that such products are not mis-sold to retail clients. This legislative instrument was created under the authority of several specific sections of the Corporations Act 2001, including sections 926A, 951B, 992B, 994L, and 1020F, by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The primary policy objective of this instrument is to provide clarity and protection for retail clients by ensuring that incidental insurance products are not marketed or sold as standalone products to them. This instrument defines "incidental product" in a manner that aligns with the broader regulatory framework for financial products under the Corporations Act 2001.

Scope and Application

The ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716 applies to general insurance products that are provided as part of a contract which also includes another general insurance product intended for a wholesale client. The instrument modifies the Corporations Act 2001 by clarifying the definition of a retail client in the context of general insurance products that are incidental to the primary product provided to wholesale clients. This means that if a contract includes both a primary insurance product for a wholesale client and an additional, incidental insurance product for the same client, the incidental product will be treated under the provisions governing retail clients, unless explicitly excluded. The instrument is applicable nationally as it is made under the authority of the Commonwealth's Corporations Act 2001 and is intended to ensure consistent application across all states and territories. The instrument will be repealed at the start of 16 August 2030, as specified in the repeal section. Any future amendments or modifications will be accessible on the legislative register but will not alter the text of the compiled law unless explicitly stated.

Key Provisions

The ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716 modifies certain provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 to specify the circumstances in which a general insurance product is considered an "incidental product" when provided in connection with another insurance product. Specifically, Section 5 modifies the definition of "retail and wholesale client" as it applies to general insurance products. The modifications clarify that a product is an "incidental product" if it is provided under the same insurance contract as another product intended for a wholesale client, is incidental to that primary product, is not offered separately by the insurer, and does not require a separate premium. The obligations imposed by this instrument require insurers to ensure that any general insurance products they provide are correctly classified as either incidental or standalone products. This involves assessing whether the product is provided under a contract that includes another product for a wholesale client and ensuring that the product is not marketed or sold as a standalone item. Insurers must also ensure compliance with the definitions and criteria outlined in Section 5 of the instrument. Failure to comply with the requirements of this instrument may result in civil or criminal penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the instrument itself, they are likely to be consistent with the penalties outlined in the Corporations Act 2001, which can include fines and imprisonment for serious breaches. The maximum penalties for contraventions under the Corporations Act can reach up to $210,000 for individuals and $1,050,000 for bodies corporate, depending on the nature and severity of the offence. Additionally, officers and directors of companies found in breach may also face personal penalties. The instrument also includes a repeal clause, as indicated in Section 6, which specifies that the instrument will be repealed at the start of 16 August 2030. This means that after this date, the modifications introduced by this instrument will no longer apply, and the original provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 will resume their effect. The repeal is set to ensure that the legislative framework remains current and relevant, accommodating any future changes in regulatory standards or market practices.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Corporate Law & Governance
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Repeal & Amendment
Transitional Provisions

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.