Answer to Question #79109 in Finance for Owen Marsden

Question

What role does the ASX play in assisting corporate governance in Australia?

Answer 1

The ASX Corporate Governance Council was convened by ASX in August 2002.
The Council brings together a wide range of business, shareholder and industry groups, each offering their individual insights and perspectives on governance issues. It operates under a charteradopted in November 2012.
The primary role of the Council is to develop and issue principles-based recommendations on the corporate governance practices to be adopted by ASX listed entities. The recommendations are intended to promote investor confidence and to assist listed entities to meet stakeholder expectations in relation to their governance.
Under Listing Rule 4.10.3, ASX listed entities are required to benchmark their corporate governance practices against the Council’s recommendations and, where they do not conform, to disclose that fact and the reasons why. The rule effectively encourages listed entities to adopt the Council’s recommended practices but does not force them to do so. It gives a listed entity the flexibility to adopt alternative corporate governance practices, if its board considers those to be more suitable to its particular circumstances, subject to the requirement for the board to explain its reasons for adopting those alternative practices.