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ASIC enforcement outcomes: what the Australian regulator's figures show

Last checked 25 October 2026 · 5 sources

Short answer

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) can end a matter through criminal prosecution, civil court proceedings, administrative action such as a ban, an enforceable undertaking or an infringement notice 5. In the 2025-26 financial year ASIC commenced 260 formal investigations and 32 civil proceedings against 65 defendants 3. Courts imposed A$830 million in civil penalties 3. There were 25 criminal convictions, 21 of them with custodial sentences 3. A total of 87 individuals or companies were banned or restricted from financial services 3.
Formal investigations commenced, 2025-26
260 3
Civil proceedings commenced, 2025-26
32, against 65 defendants 3
Civil penalties imposed by courts, 2025-26
A$830 million 3
Criminal convictions, 2025-26
25, with 21 custodial and 4 non-custodial sentences 3
Banned or restricted from financial services, 2025-26
87 individuals or companies 3
Civil penalties imposed by courts, 2024-25
A$104.1 million 4

Who decides what

ASIC information sheet INFO 151, updated in March 2026, sets out how ASIC chooses and uses its enforcement tools in Australia 5.

ASIC usually refers suspected criminal matters to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP), which decides whether the evidence is sufficient to start criminal proceedings. ASIC can prosecute some minor regulatory offences itself 5. Civil penalties are ordered by a court on an application by ASIC 5. Bans, licence cancellations and stop orders are administrative actions. ASIC says it does not need to go to court for these 5.

ASIC says it cannot formally investigate every matter that comes to its attention. It says it is less likely to investigate matters that are isolated, inadvertent or minor, or that another agency or private dispute resolution would handle better 5.

The ways an ASIC matter can end

OutcomeWho decidesStandard or effect
Criminal conviction: prison, criminal fine or orders such as community service 5CDPP prosecutes, a court decides 5Proof beyond reasonable doubt 5
Civil penalty and other court orders, such as compensation or disqualification 5Court, on an ASIC application 5Balance of probabilities 5
Administrative action: licence suspension or cancellation, banning, stop orders, public warning notices 5ASIC 5No court hearing needed 5
Court enforceable undertaking 5ASIC accepts it 5A promise the court can enforce, which can complement other action 5
Infringement notice 5ASIC issues it 5Paying is not an admission of guilt 5

Figures for 2025-26 and 2024-25

The table copies the year at a glance pages of the ASIC annual reports for the financial years ending 30 June 2026 and 30 June 2025 3,4. The 2025-26 report was published in October 2026 3.

Measure2025-262024-25
Formal investigations commenced 3,4260 3252 4
Civil proceedings commenced 3,432, against 65 defendants 338, against 195 defendants 4
Civil penalties imposed by courts 3,4A$830 million 3A$104.1 million 4
Individuals prosecuted by the CDPP after ASIC referral 3,437 324 4
Criminal convictions 3,425 319 4
Custodial sentences 3,421 314 4
Infringement notices issued 3,435 316 4
Court enforceable undertakings 3,45 33 4
Banned or restricted from financial services 3,487 individuals or companies 358 individuals or companies 4
Disqualified or removed from directing companies 3,436 people 314 people 4

Two counts of money returned

ASIC media release 26-162MR, dated 20 July 2026, said A$644 million was being paid back to Australians in 2025-26. Its statistics list gave A$643.5 million 1. ASIC media release 26-248MR, dated 19 October 2026, said ASIC helped secure more than A$580 million in repayments and refunds in 2025-26 2. The two releases do not explain the difference. This page shows both as published 1,2.

The July release said courts ordered A$480 million in civil penalties from 1 January to 30 June 2026 and A$350 million in the first half of the financial year. It said the January to June figure excludes proposed or agreed penalties still awaiting court approval 1. The same release counted more than 250 investigations launched, 18 new criminal prosecutions commenced and A$12 million in infringement notices for July 2025 to June 2026 1.

Reading an ASIC headline

  • A penalty total counts amounts ordered by courts in the period. It is not the same as money collected 1.
  • One large case can move a yearly total. ASIC said a court ordered a record A$300 million penalty against Union Standard International Group for CFD misconduct in 2025-26 1. The October release gives A$300.2 million against the company and two former corporate authorised representatives 2.
  • An investigation is not a finding. ASIC commenced 260 formal investigations in 2025-26, and 32 civil proceedings were commenced in the same year 3.
  • An infringement notice is not a court finding of a breach. ASIC says compliance with an infringement notice is not an admission of guilt 5.

Common questions

What enforcement powers does ASIC have?

ASIC can seek criminal outcomes through the CDPP, bring civil penalty and other court proceedings, take administrative action such as bans and licence cancellations, accept court enforceable undertakings and issue infringement notices 5.

How much did ASIC secure in civil penalties in 2025-26?

Courts imposed A$830 million in civil penalties in ASIC matters in 2025-26, according to the ASIC annual report 3. The figure for 2024-25 was A$104.1 million 4.

Does ASIC prosecute criminal cases itself?

ASIC as a rule refers criminal matters to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, which decides whether to prosecute 5. In 2025-26 the CDPP prosecuted 37 individuals after ASIC referral, and ASIC ran 137 summary prosecutions of individuals 3.

Is paying an ASIC infringement notice an admission?

No. ASIC says compliance with an infringement notice is not considered an admission of guilt 5. ASIC issued 35 infringement notices in 2025-26 3.

How many people did ASIC ban in 2025-26?

The annual report counts 87 individuals or companies banned or restricted from financial services, 27 removed from credit services and 36 people disqualified or removed from directing companies in 2025-26 3.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@enforcementoutcomes.com.

Sources

  1. ASIC: 26-162MR ASIC secures record $830 million in civil penalties orders and $644 million back to Australians in 2025-26 (20 July 2026)
  2. ASIC: 26-248MR ASIC's annual report outlines strong enforcement and consumer outcomes (19 October 2026)
  3. ASIC: ASIC Annual Report 2025-26 (October 2026)
  4. ASIC: ASIC Annual Report 2024-25, Chapter 1: Year in review (undated)
  5. ASIC: ASIC's approach to enforcement (INFO 151) (17 March 2026)

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