ASIC has removed company officeholders’ residential addresses on online company extracts, tightening public access to personal data amid rising privacy and security risks.
Officeholders are directors and company secretaries who can either be locals or non-residents in Australia. The change applies to company extracts purchased through the ASIC website and reflects concerns about personal safety, identity theft, and cyber-crime linked to easily accessible personal information.
ASIC said the update introduces an access control rather than removing address data from the registers altogether, ensuring that sensitive information is no longer available through the most commonly used public channel. Authorised users, including law enforcement bodies, government agencies, and parties with legitimate regulatory or business needs, will continue to access residential address details.
To support implementation, ASIC will engage with registry intermediaries and monitor how the change affects register users. Information for customers accessing registers directly is available through ASIC’s Company and Organisation Registers.
The update aligns with ASIC’s RegistryConnect program, which aims to improve the accuracy, integrity, and security of registry data. Planned enhancements include linking director identification numbers to the companies register to further limit the storage of personal information.
RegistryConnect will also introduce stronger user authentication processes to verify identities without exposing private details, improving confidence in the reliability of registry interactions.
Treasury is consulting on draft legislation to modernise Australia’s business registers, with submissions open until 10 February 2026. ASIC said it will continue working with Treasury on reforms to strengthen register integrity.
Last updated: 03rd Feb 2026
About the Author
Ro Elvinia is ABN Australia's Customer Success and Marketing Manager. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, majoring in journalism, and also has an academic background in civil engineering. With over a decade of experience in professional writing and a background spanning journalism, Australian immigration, and business services, Ro brings a unique mix of communication and analytical expertise. She works closely with international clients and contributes to ABN Australia's content strategy, helping global businesses stay informed and confident as they navigate the Australian market.
Ro Elvinia
Customer Success and Marketing Manager