The Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law’s speech on Corporate Governance In Today’s Volatile Market Condition summarises the government’s caution about further regulation as a response to the sub-prime crisis:
"on the whole, our robust financial system has coped extremely well
with the recent global pressures. And our market regulators have been
doing a solid job in difficult circumstances.
… But I can
assure you that I am well aware of the need for caution before we
introduce any new regulation in this area.
We must look beyond immediate events and preoccupations. We must
consider the medium-term risks, opportunities, and vulnerabilities that
confront corporate law.
I am committed to pursuing reform of the regulatory and corporate
governance framework. Reform that is comprehensive, effective, and —
above all — sustainable.
The speech discusses:
- disclosure requirements for equity derivatives
- short selling and securities lending
- directors’ conduct and obligations to their companies
- reforms to corporate offences, sanctions and personal liability for directors
- financial services consumer protection
- reform of regulation of credit-related financial services
- financial reporting
- self managed superannuation funds