This bill became law on Jun 30th, 2026.
Budget, tax & economy
ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. stays responsible for Australia’s business registers, stopping cancelled Modernising Business Registers changes from shifting the work to the Taxation Commissioner frameworkThe alternative registry administration model that would have shifted business register responsibilities away from ASIC to the tax system unless these changes stopped it..
Cancelled Modernising Business Registers changes left Australia’s business registers needing a stable legal home and stronger data-quality controls. The bill keeps ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. responsible, requires companies to report director IDs from 1 July 2027, and expands ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules.’s powers to reject bad filings, deregister companies, and act against directors who ignore IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use. directions.
Australia already had ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. business registers and, since November 2021, director IDs intended to improve transparency and help regulators combat illegal phoenixingWhen people strip or abandon a company to avoid debts and then continue the business through another company, often leaving workers, suppliers or tax unpaid., but the abandoned Modernising Business Registers programA cancelled project to combine many Commonwealth business registers, whose unfinished legal changes this bill is meant to stabilise or unwind. left the registers needing a stable legal home and cleaner data controls. After Treasury consulted on draft registry reforms in late 2025 and early 2026, Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP introduced a bill that kept ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. responsible, linked director IDs to company reporting, strengthened ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules.’s tools against false filings and became an Act on 30 June 2026.
The main reservations were not against keeping ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. in charge, but about whether the bill’s privacy protections, strict liabilityA legal rule where a person can be liable for breaching a requirement without prosecutors having to prove they intended to do the wrong thing. rules and practical rollout had been checked closely enough. The Coalition still supported the bill, while the small business ombudsmanAn independent office that speaks up for small and family businesses and commented on how the register should work for them. backed director IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use. linking but pointed to missed registry design opportunities for small and family businesses.
Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 30 June 2026
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
47 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. stays responsible for Australia’s business registers, stopping cancelled Modernising Business Registers changes from shifting the work to the Taxation Commissioner frameworkThe alternative registry administration model that would have shifted business register responsibilities away from ASIC to the tax system unless these changes stopped it..
Companies must give ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. each director’s director IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use. through normal registration, change and annual reporting processes, starting from 1 July 2027.
ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. can ban a person from managing corporations for up to three years if the person fails to apply for a director IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use. when directed.
ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. gets stronger tools to keep business register information accurate, including deregistering companies for seriously false or incomplete information and rejecting documents in the wrong format.
Company officers can use an alternative public address more easily, but companies and ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. must still hold the officer’s usual home address.
In July 2023, an independent Review recommended cessation of the MBR program due to escalating costs outweighing its expected benefits. Pursuant to that outcome, on 28 August 2023 the Albanese Government announced its decision to stop the MBR program and return administration of business registers to ASIC. In doing so, and through subsequent Budget and MYEFO processes, the Government committed to instead pursuing targeted amendments to stabilise and improve business registries and uplift ASIC’s capacity to administer them.Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) explanatory memorandum
The Bill enhances the Director ID regime by strengthening its requirements and enforcement by ASIC. It also facilitates inclusion of Director ID information on ASIC’s Companies Register, a publicly available record of information about registered companies and registrable bodies. To support this, companies and registrable bodies will be required to provide the Director ID of each director to ASIC as part of standard corporate registration and reporting practices, including application for registration, notification of changes to the details of the company or director, and annual reporting. These amendments will strengthen transparency and corporate accountability, and enable regulators, businesses and the public to check directors’ identities and trace their relationships across corporate entities more easily.Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) explanatory memorandum
(1) ASIC may disqualify a person from managing corporations for up to 3 years if:Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) Act 2026 final Act text
To address this gap, the Bill introduces a targeted, administrative ground for deregistration that is expressly tied to the quality and veracity of information given to ASIC. Specifically, the Bill empowers ASIC to deregister a company where ASIC has reason to believe that information given to ASIC by or on behalf of the company is materially incomplete, misleading, false or deceptive.[Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 601AB(2A) of the Corporations Act]Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) explanatory memorandum
The Bill removes these restrictions on who is entitled to an alternative address, while retaining safeguards which prevent misuse of the alternative option.[Schedule 2, items 5 to 6 and 8, section 205D and Schedule 3 of the Corporations Act]Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) explanatory memorandum
Context
Australia already had ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. business registers and, since November 2021, director IDs intended to improve transparency and help regulators combat illegal phoenixingWhen people strip or abandon a company to avoid debts and then continue the business through another company, often leaving workers, suppliers or tax unpaid., but the abandoned Modernising Business Registers programA cancelled project to combine many Commonwealth business registers, whose unfinished legal changes this bill is meant to stabilise or unwind. left the registers needing a stable legal home and cleaner data controls. After Treasury consulted on draft registry reforms in late 2025 and early 2026, Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP introduced a bill that kept ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. responsible, linked director IDs to company reporting, strengthened ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules.’s tools against false filings and became an Act on 30 June 2026.
Modernising Business Registers programA cancelled project to combine many Commonwealth business registers, whose unfinished legal changes this bill is meant to stabilise or unwind. begins
The former Coalition government launched the program to consolidate 30 Australian business registers, setting up the registry changes that later needed to be unwound or stabilised.
Hansard ↗Director IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use. regime starts
The regime gave company directors a unique lifelong identifier as part of reforms to improve corporate transparency and combat illegal phoenix behaviourWhen people strip or abandon a company to avoid debts and then continue the business through another company, often leaving workers, suppliers or tax unpaid..
Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) explanatory memorandum ↗Independent review reports on Modernising Business Registers
Treasury’s final report became a concrete anchor for replacing the ceased Modernising Business Registers programA cancelled project to combine many Commonwealth business registers, whose unfinished legal changes this bill is meant to stabilise or unwind. with more targeted registry reforms.
Treasury ↗Treasury consults on draft registry reforms
Public consultation on the exposure draftA draft version of the proposed law released for public comment before the final bill was introduced. drew supportive stakeholder feedback and led to drafting changes to better fit existing laws.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) explanatory memorandum ↗Small business ombudsmanAn independent office that speaks up for small and family businesses and commented on how the register should work for them. backs linking director IDs to the company registerASIC's public record of registered companies and their details, which the bill links to director ID information.
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise OmbudsmanAn independent office that speaks up for small and family businesses and commented on how the register should work for them. said linking director IDs to the Company RegisterASIC's public record of registered companies and their details, which the bill links to director ID information. would help regulators detect false or fraudulent director identities and trace directors across multiple companies.
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman ↗Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP introduces the bill
The bill was presented as urgent practical reform to strengthen business registers that support everyday checks by suppliers, banks, landlords and customers.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing the parliamentary approval needed to keep ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. responsible and uplift registry data powers.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Business registries changes become law
Royal AssentThe final formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. turned the bill into an Act, allowing the stabilisation and uplift changes to take legal effect according to their commencement rules.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Referred to Committee (14/05/2026): Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Committee report (17/06/2026)
Report tabled 17 Jun 2026
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Considered by scrutiny committee (25/06/2026): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
APH bill page notesThe chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main reservations were not against keeping ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. in charge, but about whether the bill’s privacy protections, strict liabilityA legal rule where a person can be liable for breaching a requirement without prosecutors having to prove they intended to do the wrong thing. rules and practical rollout had been checked closely enough. The Coalition still supported the bill, while the small business ombudsmanAn independent office that speaks up for small and family businesses and commented on how the register should work for them. backed director IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use. linking but pointed to missed registry design opportunities for small and family businesses.
No party represented in the debate opposed the bill; criticism was narrow and conditional.
Privacy and strict liability safeguards
Kevin Hogan said the Coalition would support the bill, but wanted the Senate inquiry to examine whether privacy protections and strict liability provisionsA legal rule where a person can be liable for breaching a requirement without prosecutors having to prove they intended to do the wrong thing. were appropriate before the reforms proceeded.
Small business registry design
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise OmbudsmanAn independent office that speaks up for small and family businesses and commented on how the register should work for them. supported linking director IDs to company records, but said modernised registers should better capture small and family business characteristics such as business type and operating locations, which could help government responses in areas like disaster support.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Andrew Leigh strongly supports the bill, saying it is an urgent fix to keep business registers with ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules., avoid disruption from old unused laws starting on 1 July 2026, and give ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. better powers to modernise the system.
Read in Hansard ↗Kevin Hogan says the coalition will support the bill because it keeps Australia’s business registries operating and backs useful reforms like director IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use., but he wants the Senate inquiry to check privacy protections and the strict liabilityA legal rule where a person can be liable for breaching a requirement without prosecutors having to prove they intended to do the wrong thing. rules.
Read in Hansard ↗Julie-Ann Campbell supports the bill, saying it will modernise business registries, link director IDs to company records, and keep registry administration with ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. to improve transparency, privacy and efficiency.
Read in Hansard ↗Rowan Holzberger strongly backs the bill, saying it helps stop illegal phoenixingWhen people strip or abandon a company to avoid debts and then continue the business through another company, often leaving workers, suppliers or tax unpaid. that destroys subcontractors and small construction businesses.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
5 speakers · 6 contributions · 5 support
“Another important function of this bill is ensuring continuity and certainty in the administration of Australia's business registries. Urgent legislative action is required before 30 June this year. Without these amendments, legacy provisions associated with the former Modernising Business Registers program would automatically commence on 1 July, transferring responsibility for registry administration away from ASIC and into a framework designed for a program that was stopped back in 2023. That outcome would create unnecessary disruption, undermine reforms that are already on the way and delay practical improvements currently being delivered through RegistryConnect. This bill prevents that disruption. It ensures responsibility for Australia's business registries remains with ASIC, maintains continuity across registry operations and supports the next phase of practical improvements already being delivered through RegistryConnect.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The end of this story is a good news story for Les. He ended up taking NAB to a class action and, only a couple of months ago, won $20 million. That's not all of it, but it is some of it. If there is a story of David taking on Goliath, it is that story—and that story hasn't quite been told publicly yet. To Les Williams, to the assistant minister and to everybody who has helped with this legislation, to see what is at least anecdotally having an impact, all power to you and all power to this legislation. And for the sake of the mums and dads and sole traders who live in Forde, I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is a bill about getting the basics right. It is about making sure Australia's core economic infrastructure is fit for purpose and reflects the modern society it operates in. This bill also makes sure the systems that businesses and consumers rely on to verify who they're dealing with are accurate, secure, modern and, above all else, trustworthy. It fixes a legislative hangover from a failed expensive program that the former coalition government left behind. It gives ASIC the tools it needs to do its job, while delivering meaningful reform that makes it harder for bad-faith actors to defraud and exploit honest businesses and working people. That is worthy thing for this parliament to do, and I'm proud that this government is getting on and doing it. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This Bill is about continuity and confidence. It keeps responsibility for Australia's business registers with ASIC. It prevents outdated provisions from disrupting registry operations. It supports the linking of Director IDs to company records. And it gives ASIC the practical powers needed to run a modern, secure and reliable registry system.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Andrew Leigh on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Andrew Leigh strongly supports the bill, saying it is an urgent fix to keep business registers with ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules., avoid disruption from old unused laws starting on 1 July 2026, and give ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules. better powers to modernise the system. He argues it will improve transparency, link director IDs to company records, and make the registers easier to use and harder to misuse.
“This bill prevents that disruption. It ensures responsibility remains with ASIC and provides the powers needed to administer and update the registers effectively.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Andrew Leigh supports the bill and says it is needed to keep the business registries upgrade on track, strengthen the director IDA unique lifelong number for a company director, used here to link a person to the companies they direct and make false identities harder to use. and registry systems, and avoid disruption to ASICThe corporate regulator that will keep running the companies and business registers and enforce many of the new registry rules.’s administration of the registers.
“Finally, I acknowledge the Treasury officials who worked on this bill: Percy Bell, Michael Fitzgerald, George Kelleher, Michael Joost, Harry Braddick, Anne Nguyen, Mana Addepalli, David Haines, Angelina Kosev, Nelson Mendonca and Zoe Winston-Gregson. This bill ensures these important reforms remain on track and that Australia's business registers continue to be trusted, resilient and fit for purpose. I commend the bill to the House.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“I rise to speak to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) Bill 2026. As a starting point, the coalition is broadly supportive of this bill. We will not oppose it in the House, so there can be a proper consideration by a Senate inquiry. This bill is obviously going to keep Australia's business registers operating. Business registers are a core piece of economic infrastructure. Businesses, lenders, consumers, journalists and regulators rely on them, as you know, Mr Speaker, every day. We support keeping these systems stable, accurate and usable.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
AssentThe final formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act.
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Economics Legislation Committee
Report tabled 17 Jun 2026
Referred to Committee (14 May 2026): Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Committee report (17 June 2026)
APH bill page notesSenate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
Considered by scrutiny committee (25 June 2026): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
APH bill page notes
