The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) imposed record monetary sanctions — including $350 million in penalties and $583 million in restitution — in the second half of 2025.
On the strength of a series of enforcement actions against some large financial firms, the regulator reported that it obtained $349.8 million (all figures in Australian dollars) in court-ordered civil penalties in the last six months of 2025, which represented the highest total on record for six months.
“ASIC has secured record penalties in response to serious misconduct, and is protecting Australians and safeguarding trust and confidence in Australia’s financial system,” said ASIC chair, Joe Longo, in a release.
Additionally, the regulator’s actions have generated $583 million in fee refunds and other forms of payback to retail investors and consumers, it noted.
“Today, ASIC is one of the most active law enforcement agencies in the country. We are taking more cases to court, achieving record penalties, and protecting consumers,” Longo added.
The increased enforcement activity coincides with a 28% increase in reports of misconduct in the second half, compared with the first six months of the year, the regulator reported.
The increase in misconduct reports was “driven by corporate governance concerns,” it noted.