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CP 391 Access to information on the companies register

consultation paper – 391

Released 11 September 2026. Comments close 12 October 2026.

We propose to introduce new settings for access to companies register information. The aim of the proposed model is to ensure transparency, while limiting access to more sensitive personal information.

Proposal

ASIC administers the companies register, which records information about Australian companies and certain people connected with those companies. The register supports transparency and confidence in the market by helping people identify companies, understand their status, and make informed decisions when dealing with them.

At the same time, some information on the register is personal or sensitive, and access settings must balance transparency with privacy, safety and security.

We are upgrading our registry technology and implementing new laws to support a more modern, stable and secure registry service. The aim of the changes is to provide businesses, the public and government with the information they need, while improving safety and security for individuals identified in registry data.

This paper seeks feedback on the proposed access settings before the new arrangements are implemented.

Who we want to hear from

We welcome feedback from all interested stakeholders, including:

  • companies, officeholders, company agents and company secretarial services
  • small business, creditors and investors
  • accountancy firms, legal practitioners, registered liquidators, real estate agents
  • community advocates and legal centres
  • journalists, media organisations and researchers
  • banking and credit associations
  • information brokers and digital service providers
  • debt collection agencies and private investigation firms
  • government bodies

Providing feedback

Feedback or detailed submissions can be sent by email to consultation.registrydata@asic.gov.au by 5pm AEST on Monday, 12 October 2026.

You may choose to remain anonymous or use an alias when providing feedback. However, if you do remain anonymous, we will not be able to contact you to discuss your feedback should we need to.

We will not treat your feedback as confidential unless you specifically ask that we treat the whole or part of it (such as any personal or financial information) as confidential.

See our privacy policy for more information on how we handle personal information, your rights to seek access to and correct personal information, and your right to complain about breaches of privacy by ASIC.

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Timeline

11 September to 12 October 2026

Consultation on proposed access to registry information

March 2027

Report back on submissions with draft legislative instrument

November 2026 to June 2027

Design, build and testing of the new registry services

1 July 2027

Start of director ID, service address and electronic address lodgements

Start of new registry services and access settings

1 August 2028

Full implementation of new information requirements and access settings