NOTICE OF DISQUALIFICATION – Trevor Ropata - 29 June 2026
Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
To:
Trevor Ropata
SILVERWATER NSW 2128
I, Ben Kelly, a delegate of the Commissioner of Taxation, give you notice as required by subsection 126A(6) of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA), that I have disqualified you under subsection 126A(1) of the SISA.
The disqualification takes effect on the day on which it is made.
Dated: 29 June 2026
Ben Kelly
Deputy Commissioner of Taxation
Per Karen Taylor
Note 1:
Under subsection 126A(7) of the SISA, details of this disqualification notice will be published as a Notifiable Instrument in the Federal Register of Legislation.
Note 2:
Under section 126K of the SISA, it is an offence for a disqualified person, who knows that he or she is a disqualified person, to be, or act as a:
› trustee, investment manager or custodian of a superannuation entity
› responsible officer or a body corporate that is a trustee, investment manager or custodian, of a superannuation entity
The maximum penalty for committing this offence is two years jail.
Note 3:
Under subsection 126A(5) of the SISA, we may revoke this disqualification on our own initiative or on your written application.
Note 4:
Under section 344 of the SISA, if you are affected by this decision and are not satisfied with it, you can ask the Commissioner to reconsider the decision. This request must be made in writing within 21 days of receiving notice of this decision and must give the reasons you think the decision is wrong.
Overview
The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA) was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to establish a robust regulatory framework governing the superannuation industry in Australia, aiming to protect the interests of superannuation fund members. This Act addresses the need for oversight and regulation of superannuation funds, trustees, and related entities to ensure compliance with financial and operational standards, thereby safeguarding the retirement savings of Australians. One of the critical objectives of the SISA is to maintain the integrity and stability of the superannuation system by imposing disqualifications on individuals deemed unfit to manage or influence superannuation entities. The legislation empowers the Commissioner of Taxation to disqualify individuals from participating in the management of superannuation entities under specific circumstances, as highlighted in the notice of disqualification issued to Trevor Ropata on 29 June 2026.
Scope and Application
The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA) applies to individuals and entities involved in the management and oversight of superannuation funds in Australia. This includes trustees, investment managers, and custodians of superannuation entities, as well as responsible officers and bodies corporate that assume such roles. The geographic reach of the Act is national, as it pertains to the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act includes provisions for disqualification of individuals deemed unfit to manage superannuation funds, with the disqualifying decision taking immediate effect upon issuance. Additionally, the Act outlines the criminal offence of a disqualified person acting in a restricted capacity, with a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. This legislative framework extends its application through subordinate instruments, allowing for the revocation of disqualifications under certain conditions and providing avenues for reconsideration of disqualifying decisions by the Commissioner. The Act also mandates the publication of disqualifying notices as Notifiable Instruments in the Federal Register of Legislation.
Key Provisions
The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA) provides several key provisions related to disqualification of individuals from managing superannuation entities. Subsection 126A(1) of the SISA allows for the disqualification of individuals deemed unfit to manage superannuation entities, while subsection 126A(6) mandates that a notice of disqualification must be provided to the individual in question, as seen in the notice to Trevor Ropata dated 29 June 2026. The disqualification takes immediate effect upon issuance of the notice. The Act also requires, under subsection 126A(7), that details of the disqualification be published as a Notifiable Instrument in the Federal Register of Legislation.
The SISA imposes specific obligations on disqualified individuals. For instance, section 126K of the Act makes it an offence for a disqualified person to act as a trustee, investment manager, custodian, or responsible officer of a superannuation entity, or to be associated with a body corporate that holds such roles. These roles are critical to the management and oversight of superannuation funds, and the Act aims to protect these funds by ensuring they are managed by fit and proper persons. Failure to comply with these obligations can lead to serious legal consequences.
Breaching the provisions of the SISA can result in significant penalties. Section 126K imposes a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment for a disqualified person who knowingly engages in the prohibited activities. This reflects the seriousness with which the Act treats the mismanagement of superannuation funds. Additionally, the Act provides a mechanism for revocation of the disqualification under subsection 126A(5), either on the initiative of the authorities or upon written application by the disqualified individual. For those dissatisfied with the disqualification decision, section 344 of the SISA allows for a request for reconsideration by the Commissioner, which must be made in writing within 21 days of receiving the notice of the decision and must detail the reasons for dissatisfaction.