The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) regulates registered companies, financial markets, and providers of financial services and credit services. The ASIC aims to promote fair and efficient financial markets, characterised by integrity and transparency, and to support confident and informed participation by investors and financial consumers.
The ASIC issues financial licences and monitor businesses that provide financial services to ensure that they operate efficiently, honestly and fairly through the Australian financial services licensing system. These businesses provide services in relation to financial products, including regulated emissions units since July 2012. The ASIC maintains a register of Australian financial services licensees and authorised representatives of Australian financial services licensees.
The ASIC is also responsible for the supervision of operators of financial markets, operators of clearing and settlement facilities and of financial market participants.
Under the financial services laws, the ASIC has facilitative, regulatory and enforcement powers, which include power to:
- make rules aimed at ensuring the integrity of financial markets
- investigate suspected breaches of the law and in so doing require people to produce books or answer questions at an examination
- issue infringement notices in relation to alleged breaches of some laws
- ban people from engaging in credit activities or providing financial services
- seek civil penalties from the courts, and
- commence prosecutions.
For more information, visit the ASIC's responsibilities and roles in financial markets.
If you identify any potential fraud or misconduct relating to emissions units or Australian carbon markets please contact ASIC on 1300 300 630.