Modernising Business Registers program
Program update
On 28 August 2023, the Assistant Treasurer released the findings of the independent review into the Modernising Business Registers (MBR) program, and the government’s response.
Following consideration of the review’s findings, the government announced it will stop the MBR program and consider options to stabilise and uplift the existing business registers.
We will work with Treasury and the ATO to implement the government’s decision and plan the way forward.
Government announces MoG change
The government has announced that responsibility for the ASIC business registers and related services will return from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ASIC under a Machinery of Government (MoG) change.
Some ATO employees will also transition to ASIC as part of the MoG change, which is expected to be completed in May 2024.
This announcement follows the government’s decision, announced in August, to stop the MBR program.
The ASIC business registers are the companies, business names, professional and banned and disqualified persons registers. The ATO will maintain responsibility for the Australian Business Register and director ID, with ASIC remaining responsible for enforcing director ID offences.
What’s not changing
For now, how you register, search and get extracts of the registers, and interact with us remains the same.
Background
In 2020, as part of its Digital Business Plan, the government announced the full implementation of the Modernising Business Registers (MBR) program to:
- establish Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS)
- streamline how you register, view, and maintain your business information with government.
On 9 February 2023, the Australian Government announced an independent review of the MBR program.