The independent panel for the Statutory Review of the Meetings and Documents Amendments was appointed by the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, the Hon Stephen Jones MP, in June 2024.
The panel provided their final report to the Assistant Treasurer on 14 August 2024, in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The government tabled the report in both houses of Parliament on 9 September 2024.
Panel
The panel consisted of:
- The Hon Dr Robert Austin AM – Chair
- Ms Helen Bird
- Ms Judith Fox.
The Hon Dr Robert Austin AM
The Hon Dr Robert Austin AM is a barrister, practising in areas such as commercial and corporations law, with significant corporate governance experience.
Dr Austin is a former judge of the New South Wales Supreme Court and has written extensively on corporate law and governance.
Ms Helen Bird
Ms Helen Bird is a senior lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology.
She has a history of corporate social governance advocacy and is a regular commentator on corporate law, governance and corporate social responsibility.
Ms Judith Fox
Ms Judith Fox is the CEO of the Stockbrokers and Investment Advisers Association.
She is experienced in representing the interests of shareholders, and was previously the CEO of the Australian Shareholders' Association.
Terms of reference
The panel reviewed amendments made to the Corporations Act 2001 by:
- Schedule 1 of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No.1) Act 2021, which made temporary changes that allowed companies and registered schemes to hold virtual meetings, electronically execute documents and transmit meetings-related documents electronically and
- the Corporations Amendment (Meetings and Documents) Act 2022, which made the changes permanent and made further technology neutral enhancements.
See the Terms of reference.
Final report
The panel’s final report made 11 recommendations for maintaining and improving the meetings and documents amendments. The report was informed by stakeholder meetings and submissions to a public consultation paper.
The government is considering its response to the recommendations of the review.
View the final report.
Media
- Media release by the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services – Albanese Government tables report of the Statutory Review of Meetings and Documents Amendments – 9 September 2024