MEDIA STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE PASSING OF BETTER ADVICE BILL

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The FPA welcomes the passing of the Better Advice Bill in the Senate today and looks forward to the stability that will follow. After 8 years of constant regulatory change, financial planners now have the opportunity to focus on their clients and on the challenge of providing financial advice to more Australians without the distraction of constant regulatory change. 

The Bill delivers a number of important measures, including a clear disciplinary process for the financial advice profession, regulatory efficiency through the removal of TPB as an advice regulator, the winding up of FASEA and the transfer of responsibilities of FASEA to Treasury and ASIC. These changes will streamline regulation, ultimately reducing costs to the profession and consumers. 

The Bill is the last major recommendation from the Hayne Royal Commission related to the provision of financial advice. The past two years has been another period of significant reform that has overhauled the regulation and practice of financial advice in Australia. Whilst this legislation now provides a level of clarity as to who regulates financial planners, there are still outstanding issues that need to be addressed through regulations.

The FPA will continue to work through these regulations and engage with members and stakeholders to ensure constructive input into the implementation of the reforms, as the Treasury consults on the operation of the FSCP panels at ASIC.