APRA Member Therese McCarthy Hockey's remarks to the 2026 AFIA Risk Summit are a timely reminder that AI governance is no longer a “future issue” for financial institutions. AI is already being used in decision-making, customer-facing processes, fraud detection, claims handling, software development and cyber defence. But as adoption accelerates, so do the risks. APRA’s message is clear, organisations need to understand how AI is being used, where it sits in critical operatio

AI adoption is moving quickly, and Australian businesses are being encouraged to use AI safely, responsibly and with proper governance. The Australian Government, including the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the National AI Centre and AI.gov.au, has released guidance and voluntary safety standards covering areas such as accountability, risk management, transparency, data governance, testing and human oversight. Mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI settings ar

ASIC has warned Australians about a growing scam involving fake crypto-asset trading platforms promoted through “share trading” and “stock tips” messaging groups. These scams often look polished. Victims are invited into online groups, shown trading tips, and directed to what appears to be a legitimate crypto trading platform. The platform may show fake profits, fake trades and a professional-looking dashboard. But ASIC’s warning is clear: there is no real trading. The platfo

Australia’s blockchain conversation is maturing. The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance CRC have released findings from Project Acacia, a research project exploring how tokenised assets, digital money and new settlement infrastructure could improve Australia’s wholesale financial markets. The key message is clear: tokenisation is no longer just a crypto concept. It is being tested as part of the future of financial market infrastructure. The opportunity is real

AI is already being used across Australian businesses — often before proper rules, policies or risk controls are in place. The Australian Government’s AI adoption guidance is a timely reminder that businesses do not need to wait for a dedicated AI law before taking action. If AI is being used inside the business, there should be a clear framework around how it is used, who is responsible for it, and what risks need to be managed. The guidance focuses on six core areas: accoun

Australia’s digital asset sector is moving into a more regulated phase. ASIC has released its roadmap for implementing the new digital assets law reforms, following the passage of the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026. The new regime is expected to commence in April 2027 and will bring Digital Asset Platforms and Tokenised Custody Platforms into the financial services licensing framework. For crypto exchanges, custody providers, tokenised asset platfo