Inside ASIC

3. Cleaning Greenwashing

There are a host of companies making claims about their environmental credentials. 

For ASIC this has been a serious focus as many financial products like super funds have made green claims about how they invest… but simply can’t stack them up.  

Vanguard Investments Australia was ordered to pay a record $12.9 million penalty for making misleading claims, Mercer Super was ordered to pay $11.3 million, and Active Super copped a penalty of $10.5 million for greenwashing misconduct. 

This episode features:

• Marita Hogan - who’s the Senior Executive Leader, Enforcement and Compliance at ASIC  

• Andrei Bacu is an ASIC Analyst with the superannuation team 

• Professor Jeremy Moss from the University of New South Wales 

ASIC Media Release: ⁠⁠24-061MR ASIC wins first greenwashing civil penalty action against Vanguard | ASIC⁠⁠  The podcast and information contained is not intended to be financial advice and consumers should seek independent financial advice on any matters discussed.

2. Public Private Markets

We might just be witnessing a really fundamental change in Australia’s financial markets to the the rise of private markets.  

Through superannuation investments, many Australians have indirect exposure to private assets. Private markets operate differently than public markets and are inherently less transparent.  

In this episode of Inside ASIC we are all about understanding private versus public markets. Why it matters - and what’s the role of our corporate regulator when these deals are being done behind closed doors, with: 

• Senior Executive Leader Market Conduct Andrew Templer  

• Senior Executive Leader Strategic Projects Jane Eccleston   

• Carole Comerton-Forde - Professor of Finance at Melbourne University 

1. Not so Super

Amid tales of grieving families and people with disabilities left waiting for payments from their superannuation fund, ASIC turns a spotlight the sector. 

In this episode of Inside ASIC we caught up with: 

• Pippa Lane, Acting Senior Executive Leader - Superannuation and Life Insurance at ASIC 
• Xavier O’Halloran, the CEO of Super Consumers Australia  

The content and information is not intended to be financial advice and that consumers should seek independent financial advice on any matters discussed.

Inside ASIC Trailer Series 2 - 2025

Hear more about ASIC's work on everything from beating increasingly sophisticated scams, to cracking down on greenwashing and holding super funds to account.

In Season 2 of Inside ASIC we’re going to keep pulling back the curtain on the forensic work happening at the Commission.

Over 6 episodes we’ll hear from key players inside ASIC on everything from protecting consumers from increasingly sophisticated scams… to cracking down on greenwashing - and holding super funds to account.

Episode 65: Crypto-assets for first time investors

In this episode we discuss crypto-assets for first time investors with Hema Raman, Crypto-Asset Coordinator at ASIC. 
If you're thinking about investing in crypto-assets, hear from ASIC on what to think about and look out for before you invest. 

 

 

Episode 64: Markets enforcement outcomes

In this episode, we discuss the work of ASIC’s Markets Enforcement team. We are joined by ASIC Senior Executive Leader, Molly Choucair, to discuss recent Court action against AGM Markets and Antares Energy as well as ASIC’s Immunity Policy.

Episode 63: ASIC enforcement update July to December 2020

In this episode, we discuss ASIC’s Enforcement Update for July to December 2020. We are joined by ASIC Commissioner Sean Hughes who takes us through ASIC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its major enforcement outcomes in 2020.  For more information, download the enforcement report and read the media release. 

Episode 62: Corporate governance enforcement outcomes

In this episode, we discuss the work of ASIC’s Corporations and Corporate Governance Enforcement team. We explore ASIC’s cases against former Kleenmaid director Mr Andrew Eric Young, former Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Healthzone Limited, Mr Peter David Roach and former liquidator David Leigh.

Episode 61: Risky business: land banking property investment schemes

Investing in land and property is certainly not a revolutionary idea. Australians have been investing in bricks, mortar and land for decades, but unfortunately not all property investment schemes are the same. 'Land banking' can produce returns for investors but comes with significant red flags. It is often unregulated, leaving investors without protection if things go wrong. In this episode, we explore some of the land banking schemes shut down by ASIC.

Episode 60: Holes in the safety net: A review of TPD insurance claims

In this episode we discuss the findings and recommendations from ASIC’s thematic review of total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance in Australia including what ASIC expects insurers and superannuation trustees to do to address the poor consumer outcomes. We are joined by the Senior Executive Leader of ASIC's Insurers team, Emma Curtis, and the Senior Executive Leader of the Superannuation team, Jane Eccleston. 

For more information about the review, download ASIC Report 633 Holes in the safety net: a review of TPD insurance claims and read ASIC media release 19-281MR ASIC calls on insurers and trustees to take action to improve consumer outcomes from total and permanent disability insurance.