Corporations Act 2001

CCH note - modifying legislative instruments: The application of Pt 7.6 is affected by the following legislative instruments that commenced or were amended on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Custody Standards for Providers of Custodial and Depository Services) Instrument 2024/17 (other than Divs 4 and 8); the ASIC Corporations (Investor Directed Portfolio Services) Instrument 2023/669 (as amended by ASIC Corporations (Amendment) Instrument 2024/554) (other than Divs 4 and 8); the ASIC Corporations (Record-Keeping Requirements for Australian Financial Services Licensees when Giving Personal Advice) Instrument 2024/508 (other than Divs 4 and 8); and the ASIC Corporations and Credit (Breach Reporting - Reportable Situations) Instrument 2024/620 (other than Divs 4 and 8).

The application of Pt 7.6 is also affected by Class Order 14/1262: Relief for 31 Day Notice Term Deposits (other than Divs 4 and 8).

For other legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022 that affect the application of Pt 7.6, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.

CCH Note - modifying legislative instruments: The application of Division 8C is affected by the following legislative instruments that commenced on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Issuers of Retail OTC Derivatives) Instrument 2022/705; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Responsible Entities, IDPS Operators and Corporate Directors of Retail CCIVs) Instrument 2023/647; and the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Custodial or Depository Service Providers) Instrument 2023/648.

For legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022 that affect the application of Division 8C, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.

[ CCH Note: Div 8C will be substituted by No 115 of 2021, s 3, Sch 2[1], (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation). Div 8C will read:

Division 8C - Registration for the purpose of providing personal advice

SECTION 921Y UNREGISTERED RELEVANT PROVIDERS NOT TO PROVIDE PERSONAL ADVICE  
921Y
A relevant provider must not provide personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products unless a registration of the relevant provider under subsection 921ZC(1) is in force.

Note 1: This section is a restricted civil penalty provision (see sections 921Q and 1317E ).

Note 2: See also Division 2 (requirement to be licensed or authorised) and Subdivision AA of Division 8A (limitations on authorisation to provide personal advice).

SECTION 921ZA APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION  

921ZA(1)
A person may apply to the Registrar to be registered under subsection 921ZC(1) .

921ZA(2)
The application must:

(a) meet any requirements of the data standards; and

(b) include the following declarations by the person:

(i) that the person is a fit and proper person to provide personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products;

(ii) if subsection 921BA(1) applies to the person - that the person has met the education and training standard in subsection 921B(2) ;

(iii) if subsection 921BA(2) applies to the person - that the person has met the education and training standard in subsection 921B(3) ;

(iv) if subsection 921BA(3) applies to the person - that the person has met the education and training standard in subsection 921B(4) ;

(v) if the person provides, or is to provide, a tax (financial) advice service and a determination is in force under subsection 921BB(1) - that the person meets each requirement set out in the determination that is of a kind mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of that subsection.

Note: A person may commit an offence or contravene a civil penalty provision if the person gives false or misleading information (see section 1308 of this Act and section 137.1 of the Criminal Code ).

921ZA(3)
Subject to Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914 , the person must have regard to the matters specified in section 921U (other than the matters specified in paragraphs (h) and (l) of that section) for the purposes of making a declaration mentioned in subparagraph (2)(b)(i) of this section.

Note: Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914 includes provisions that, in certain circumstances, relieve persons from the requirement to disclose spent convictions and require persons aware of such convictions to disregard them.

SECTION 921ZC REGISTRATION  

921ZC(1)
Subject to subsections (2) and (3) , if:

(a) a person makes an application in accordance with section 921ZA or 921ZD ; and

(b) the Registrar is satisfied that the person ' s identity has been established;

the Registrar must register the person by recording in the records maintained under section 922A that the person is registered under this subsection.

Refusal to register person

921ZC(2)
The Registrar must refuse to register the person if:

(a) a banning order is in force against the person that has the effect that the person is prohibited from providing personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products; or

(b) a disqualification order under Division 8 is in force against the person that has the effect of disqualifying the person from providing personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products.

921ZC(3)
If a registration prohibition order is in force against the person, the Registrar must refuse to register the person until after the prohibition end day specified in the order.

Notice of new registration

921ZC(4)
If the person made an application in accordance with section 921ZA and the Registrar registers the person under subsection (1) , the Registrar must give the person a written notice of the registration as soon as practicable after doing so.

Notice of refusal to register person

921ZC(5)
If the Registrar refuses to register the person, the Registrar must, within 5 business days after the refusal, give the person a written notice of the refusal.

921ZC(6)
The notice must specify which of the following provisions apply in relation to the person:

(a) paragraph (2)(a) or (b) ;

(b) subsection (3) .

SECTION 921ZD APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION RENEWAL  

921ZD(1)
If a person is registered under subsection 921ZC(1) , and the registration is in force, the person may apply to the Registrar to renew (or further renew) that registration.

921ZD(2)
Subsections 921ZA(2) and (3) apply in relation to an application under subsection (1) of this section in the same manner as they apply in relation to an application under subsection 921ZA(1) .

SECTION 921ZE PERIOD OF REGISTRATION  

921ZE(1)
If a person makes an application in accordance with section 921ZA , and the Registrar registers the person under subsection 921ZC(1) , the registration:

(a) comes into force when the Registrar records in the records maintained under section 922A that the person is registered under subsection 921ZC(1) ; and

(b) remains in force until the earliest of the following:

(i) the cancellation time specified in a registration prohibition order in force against the person;

(ii) the time when a banning order against the person takes effect;

(iii) the end of the financial year in which the person was registered.

921ZE(2)
If a person makes an application under subsection 921ZD(1) , and the Registrar registers the person under subsection 921ZC(1) , the registration:

(a) comes into force immediately after the end of the financial year in which the application is made; and

(b) remains in force until the earliest of the following:

(i) the cancellation time specified in a registration prohibition order in force against the person;

(ii) the time when a banning order against the person takes effect;

(iii) the end of the next financial year.]

CCH Note - modifying legislative instruments: The application of Subdivision C is affected by the following legislative instruments that commenced on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Issuers of Retail OTC Derivatives) Instrument 2022/705; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Responsible Entities, IDPS Operators and Corporate Directors of Retail CCIVs) Instrument 2023/647; and the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Custodial or Depository Service Providers) Instrument 2023/648.

For legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022 that affect the application of Subdivision C, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.

CCH note: This provision is modified by legislative instruments. See the CCH note at the end of the provision for details.

[ CCH Note: S 921ZC(1) will be amended by No 115 of 2021, s 3, Sch 1[153], by substituting " the Registrar must register the relevant provider by recording in the records maintained under section 922A that the relevant provider is registered under this subsection " for " ASIC must register the relevant provider by recording in the Register of Relevant Providers that the relevant provider is registered under this subsection " (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]

[ CCH Note: S 921ZC(2) will be amended by No 115 of 2021, s 3, Sch 1[154], by substituting " The Registrar " for " ASIC " (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]

[ CCH Note: S 921ZC(3) will be amended by No 115 of 2021, s 3, Sch 1[155], by substituting " the Registrar " for " ASIC " (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]

[ CCH Note: S 921ZC(4) will be substituted by No 115 of 2021, s 3, Sch 1[156] (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation). S 921ZC(4) will read:

Notice of registration

921ZC(4)
If:

(a) the application is made in accordance with section 921ZA ; and

(b) the Registrar registers the relevant provider under subsection (1) ;

the Registrar must, as soon as practicable after recording in the records maintained under section 922A that the relevant provider is registered under subsection (1) of this section, give a written notice of the registration to the relevant provider.]

[ CCH Note: S 921ZC(5) will be substituted by No 115 of 2021, s 3, Sch 1[156] (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation). S 921ZC(5) will read:

921ZC(5)
If:

(a) the application is made in accordance with section 921ZB ; and

(b) the Registrar registers the relevant provider under subsection (1) of this section;

the Registrar must, as soon as practicable after recording in the records maintained under section 922A that the relevant provider is registered under subsection (1) of this section, give a written notice of the registration to:

(c) the relevant provider; and

(d) the applicant.]

[ CCH Note: S 921ZC(6) will be amended by No 115 of 2021, s 3, Sch 1[157], by substituting " the Registrar " for " ASIC " wherever occurring (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]

CCH Note - modifying legislative instruments: Section 921ZC is modified by the following legislative instruments that commenced or were amended on or after 1 January 2022: the ASIC Corporations (Incidental Retail Cover) Instrument 2022/716; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Issuers of Retail OTC Derivatives) Instrument 2022/705; the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Responsible Entities, IDPS Operators and Corporate Directors of Retail CCIVs) Instrument 2023/647; and the ASIC Corporations (Financial Requirements for Custodial or Depository Service Providers) Instrument 2023/648.

For modifying legislative instruments or class orders before 1 January 2022, please consult the legislative instruments or class orders directly. These are reproduced in the regulatory-resources section of the company-law practice area in CCH iKnowConnect.