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The Australian federal election was held on 21 May 2022 and has resulted in a change of government.

The previous government had introduced a bill into Parliament to implement the foreign financial service provider (FFSP) exemptions to the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence (AFSL) and that bill had lapsed on the dissolution of Parliament following the calling of the federal election.

  • If the previous government had been returned, we would have expected the bill to be reintroduced.
  • Given the change of government, it is unclear whether the bill will be reintroduced. We will need time to understand what the new government intends to do in relation to FFSP exemptions.

We are also engaging with ASIC in relation to whether the 31 March 2023 termination date for the limited connection exemption and the passporting (or sufficient equivalence) exemptions may be extended.

In the meantime, the options available to FFSPs are detailed in our earlier articles of 11 April 2022 and 11 March 2020.

If you have any questions about the FFSP regime, get in touch with one of our experts below.

 

Fiona Smedley photo

Fiona Smedley

Partner, Sydney

Fiona Smedley
Ewan MacDonald photo

Ewan MacDonald

Special Counsel, Sydney

Ewan MacDonald
Yorick Ng photo

Yorick Ng

Special Counsel, Sydney

Yorick Ng
Adam Hickey photo

Adam Hickey

Senior Associate, Sydney

Adam Hickey

Key contacts

Fiona Smedley photo

Fiona Smedley

Partner, Sydney

Fiona Smedley
Ewan MacDonald photo

Ewan MacDonald

Special Counsel, Sydney

Ewan MacDonald
Yorick Ng photo

Yorick Ng

Special Counsel, Sydney

Yorick Ng
Adam Hickey photo

Adam Hickey

Senior Associate, Sydney

Adam Hickey
Fiona Smedley Ewan MacDonald Yorick Ng Adam Hickey