Insights

Governance Institute of Australia and distinguished governance expert, Sandy Easterbrook have developed an exposure draft of guidelines to assist ASX-listed companies and their institutional investors to engage more effectively in a bid to enhance long-term performance and corporate value.

While the Treasury review into super fund governance has backed reforms to director independence and board composition as cure-alls for a new governance framework for super funds, public debate continues to rage over appropriate board models for the sector.

The two previous reports into Australia’s financial system drove positive and fundamental change. Sir Keith Campbell’s 838-page report (1981) recommending a move from a fixed to a market-base currency exchange rate, permitting entry of foreign banks and deregulation of the banking sector spearheaded Australia’s quest to be a financial powerhouse in the Asia Pacific.

At Governance Institute of Australia, we are concerned that the draft 3rd edition of the ASX’s Corporate Governance Council’s Principles and Recommendations fails to reinforce the key principle underpinning the guidelines

In what has to be ‘a defining moment’ in their 100-year history, Members of Chartered Secretaries Australia have voted in favour of being rebranded the Governance Institute of Australia.

The commencement of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) in December last year saw the register of charities move from the Australian Tax Office to the new regulator immediately. All existing charities were ‘grandfathered’ into the new regulatory framework.