Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) 2021

✦ Plain-English Summary

# Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill 2021

**What it does**

This bill updates financial sector laws to allow companies and financial organisations to hold meetings online and sign documents electronically instead of requiring in-person meetings and physical signatures. It also tightens rules around when listed companies must publicly disclose important information that could affect their share price.

**Why it matters**

The changes make it easier and faster for businesses to operate during disruptions (like lockdowns), while the disclosure rules aim to protect everyday investors by ensuring companies can't hide material information. This reduces the chance of people buying shares based on incomplete or outdated facts.

**Key details**

- Virtual meetings and e-signatures take effect the day after the bill receives Royal Assent, with electronic witnessing of company seals now legally valid
- The continuous disclosure rules (Part 2) also kick in the day after Royal Assent, with some provisions contingent on separate registry modernisation laws being passed first
- Changes apply to companies listed on the ASX and organisations regulated by ASIC, affecting how they communicate with shareholders and the public

Official Description

Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 to: allow companies to execute documents, hold meetings, provide notices relating to meetings and keep minutes using electronic means or other alternative technologies until 16 September 2021; and make contingent amendments; and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and Corporations Act 2001 to: provide that all civil penalty proceedings commenced under the continuous disclosure and misleading and deceptive conduct provisions must prove that an entity or officer acted with 'knowledge, recklessness or negligence' in respect of an alleged contravention; and make consequential amendments.

Committee Referrals

Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Senate Economics References Committee

Full bill PDF →APH page →

Audit History

Introduced

17 Feb 2021

Last updated on APH

10 Apr 2026

Outcome date

13 Aug 2021

Last checked by Crossbench

yesterday

Full text indexed

yesterday

🗳️

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

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