New Public Register Soon to Reveal Who Really Owns Australian Companies

Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh says the move will increase transparency.
New Public Register Soon to Reveal Who Really Owns Australian Companies
Assistant Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh speaks to the media in Belmore, Sydney, Australia, on April 24, 2019. AAP Image/Joel Carrett
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New laws will soon give Australians access to determining who really owns and controls a company, according to the federal government.

Currently, the law requires that companies maintain a register of their members or shareholders. But often the company can be controlled by what is known as a “beneficial owner”—a person who ultimately owns or controls it, even if legal ownership is held by another person or entity.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.